1 Year Edition - August 2018 Texas Hurricane Harvey Recovery Guide

Survivor Resources

Hurricane information from

the Office of the Governor: Information and referral hotline: 800-843-5789

or visit https://gov.texas.gov/hurricane

Housing resources from Texas Rebuilds: Eligibility questions: 888-610-1622Maintenance issues: 877-503-6053FEMA housing qualifications: 888-958-0877If denied housing: 800-621-3362 or visit http://texasrebuilds.com/index.html

Permanent Housing Plan Checklist: If you do not have a housing plan, download the checklist at https://go.usa.gov/xnE88.

Additional resources can be found at: https://go.usa.gov/xnean.

Hurricane HarveyOne year later, Hurricane Harvey survivorsrecover, rebuild, inspire

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas one year ago, bringing destructive winds and floodwaters that claimed many lives and caused immeasurable damage. Looking back on a year of recovery, we reflect on the struggles hundreds of thousands have faced in Harvey’s aftermath. Texans, however, also take pride in the triumphs of so many survivors who have overcome difficulties and destruction Harvey dumped into their lives.

“Hurricane Harvey was an unprecedented natural disaster that devastated lives, homes, infrastructure and natural habitats,” said Paul Morris, director of the FEMA Texas Recovery Office. “The response, however, showed the true nature of our state and our neighbors, helping one another and refusing to give into the troubles thrown their way.” Harvey dropped more rain than any storm in recorded continental U.S. history and caused nearly 780,000 Texans to evacuate their homes, including over 122,000 who were rescued by local, state or federal first responders as well as private citizens from Texas and Louisiana. Thousands of homeowners and businesses have since rebuilt, many with the help of federal grants, U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans and flood insurance payments, which total in the billions. Many more have picked themselves up and started fresh in new apartments or houses. FEMA had pre-positioned personnel and supplies as Harvey approached last year, and was ready to join state and local agencies, nonprofits and the private sector in responding to survivors’ immediate needs. Within days, the number of responders from FEMA, other federal agencies and the Texas National Guard topped 31,000. State agencies and local governments hit the ground running after Harvey and established innovative partnerships with FEMA that deliver resources effectively and efficiently. This enables the state to guide its own recovery, and allows communities to decide how they will rebuild. Today, Texans find themselves in the midst of another hurricane season. There will never be a better time to plan for the unexpected and take action to protect one’s home, property and family. For information on how to prepare, visit www.ready.gov.

Keep InformedFor more information on Hurricane Harvey

and Texas recovery visit: www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey

or the Texas Division of Emergency Management at: www.dps.texas.gov/dem/

Stay in TouchFor updates on your application status or appeals visit:

DisasterAssistance.gov (800) 621-3362 (711 or VRS) OR (800) 462-7585 (TTY)

To find the nearest Disaster Recovery Center visit: www.fema.gov/drc

1 Year Edition - August 2018

FEMA philanthropy portal shares recovery infoThe Hurricane Harvey Philanthropy Portal, fema.connectsolutions.com/philanthropy4332, provides recovery information for federal, state, local and tribal governments as well as nonprofits and all Texas residents. Information about grants and funding is available to download, and hyperlinks connect to Harvey news and useful sites, including the Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas and 2-1-1 Texas. It is best viewed on a desktop or laptop computer.

Rosenberg family lifts up home and communityRose Pickens and her family evacuated their Rosenberg home before the Memorial Day 2016 flood and again before Hurricane Harvey. Both storms caused substantial flood damage, but the family is confident their house won’t flood again: They are elevating it 10 feet. Pickens has learned a lot about flooding and

is using that knowledge through a nonprofit she runs called Friends of North Rosenberg. The organization is in the process of elevating six homes, and another 15 elevations are planned. Read more at https://go.usa.gov/xUtEn, and watch a video at www.facebook.com/FEMAHarvey.

FEMA provides bridge to recoveryGreg Norman fled his Liverpool home as Harvey’s floodwaters crept toward his door. With his dog, Jake, he bounced between three shelters before returning home to clean up and rebuild. “I had a skeleton of a house and … had to start completely over,” he said. Norman registered with FEMA then spent countless hours seeking additional help online, and it paid off. “This is the best condition the house has ever been in since I moved here [35 years ago],” he said. For the full story: https://go.usa.gov/xUtE8.

76-year-old rides out Harvey, 4-state road to recovery

Sandra Maynard rode out Harvey alone as nearly 3 feet of water poured into her one-story townhouse in Port Aransas. Her niece from Richmond picked up Maynard the next day and brought her home, but they spent only one night in Richmond before evacuating because of possible

flooding there too. During the next four months, Maynard bounced between four relatives’ homes and two hospitals before finally settling in a temporary FEMA housing unit. Read her story at https://go.usa.gov/xUtE5.

Hurricane HarveyBy the Numbers

It takes ONE team

18 Long-term recovery groups established to help

survivors continue their recovery

41Counties designated for Individual Assistance from FEMA

53Counties designated for Public Assistance from FEMA

295Communities in Harvey-impacted areas participating

in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

1,471Public Assistance-obligated projects to repair

damaged infrastructure

19,049Survivors assisted by temporary housing and

innovative repair programs

91,353NFIP claims closed

287,867Texans who were assisted through a Disaster Recovery

Center

373,470Approved FEMA Individual and Households registrations.

12,953,322Cubic yards of debris cleaned in Harvey-impacted areas

$23,311,619Funds dedicated to Disaster Unemployment Assistance

$891,014,201Obligated for Public Assistance projects

$1,635,707,823Grants for housing and other disaster-related

expenses paid to survivors

$3,395,627,700Approved U.S. Small Business Administration

(SBA) low-interest loans

$8,806,511,919NFIP payments

$13,837,847,442In survivors’ pockets from federal and state grants, SBA low-interest disaster loans and NFIP payments

facebook.com/FEMAHarvey @FEMARegion6 www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey