FEMA: AFTER SEARCH AND RESCUE, ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

From: District 37 U.S. Rep Filemon Vela Jr. and

           Federal Emergency Management Agency

           (FEMA)
           FEMA Congressional Advisory #10: Hurricane Harvey Makes Landfall in Texas
Ref: Hurricane Harvey Remains a significant disaster as rain and dangerous storm surge continue

Late Friday, Hurricane Harvey intensified to a major Category 4 hurricane just before making landfall near Rockport, Texas and remains a dangerous storm.

“The priorities right now are supporting states with: search and rescue, mass care, disaster medical services, temporary power, and life sustaining commodities” says FEMA Administrator Brock Long. “Those in the path of the storm need to prepare for significant, ongoing impacts and disruptions to daily activities.”

Friday, President Donald J. Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Texas, making federal funding available for emergency work and to affected individuals and businesses owners who sustain damage as a result of the storm.

(Locally, Vela and directors of federal agencies such as Jaime Salazar, the newly appointed Patrol Agent in Charge of the Brownsville Border Patrol Station, coordinated efforts from the command center at the Brownsville Public Library. At right they participate in a FEMA conference call. District 37 stretches from Brownsville to Gonzalez near San Antonio, the area impacted by Harvey.)

Shelters are open across the affected and surrounding areas. Download the FEMA mobile app for shelter information, weather alerts, and safety tips. The app (available in English and Spanish) provides directions to open shelters, disaster survival tips, and weather alerts from the National Weather Service.

The federal coordination is fully-activated, geared up, and providing support to states, local communities, and tribes as needed. FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. and Regional Response Coordination Center in Denton, Texas, are operating 24-hours a day.

On Friday, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) station in Corpus Christi reported a water rescue of 12 people from a boat overrun by water. FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams are pre-positioned in San Antonio, Texas for additional rescues if needed. Each of these teams has swift water rescue capabilities. A USAR Incident Support Team is staged in College Station, Texas to support the teams during their deployment.

While immediate lifesaving and life sustaining operations are the priority for FEMA and our partners, residents and business owners in declared counties who sustained disaster related damage due to Hurricane Harvey, and are able to do so, can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

This page also includes links to information on how to file a flood insurance claim under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). To file a flood insurance claim under the NFIP, contact your insurance agent immediately. You can also call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) – select option 2 – to learn more about your policy, and be directed to the appropriate claims resource.

Registering online is the quickest way to register for FEMA assistance since the event will last several days and the full scope of damages will not be evident until the storm has passed. If you do not have access to the internet you may register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). If you use 711 relay or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362 directly. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.