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Disaster Recovery Center opens in Conroe with FEMA, SBA support

By , mellsworth@hcnonline.com
Marita Sims, a disaster relief coordinator with FEMA, talks with a Spanish-speaking client as FEMA and the Small Business Association disaster assistance program set up offices for clients at the former Conroe Police Department, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, in Conroe.
Marita Sims, a disaster relief coordinator with FEMA, talks with a Spanish-speaking client as FEMA and the Small Business Association disaster assistance program set up offices for clients at the former Conroe Police Department, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, in Conroe.Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Those who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey can now go to a disaster recovery center in Conroe that opened Thursday.

The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will support individuals and businesses in the counties included in the Texas federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Harvey and subsequent floods. Anyone who is registered can go to any of the 30 disaster recovery centers open in Texas or can go to the centers for help with registration.

The center in Conroe opened at the former police department building at 700 Old Montgomery Road. It will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as long as there appears to be a need, according to FEMA officials. Another FEMA center is already open at the Friendship Center in Magnolia at 31355 Friendship Drive.

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FEMA External Affairs Media Relations Manager Kurt Pickering and U.S. Small Business Administration Public Information Officer Gary Colton urge residents and business owners to register with FEMA online or by phone to receive grant funds, which do not have to be paid back, to help individuals, including homeowners and tenants who rent, and business owners get back on their feet with emergency relief amounts. The deadline to register is Oct. 24.

One of the biggest reasons people don't register, Pickering said is because they think they shouldn't if they have insurance or haven't settled yet.

"For that reason, or any other, here is the thing: If you don't register by the deadline and then you discover that you are eligible for something, you have missed your chance at it," Pickering said. "But if you do register, it doesn't take a lot of time, it doesn't cost anything, so we don't want people to self-eliminate. Anybody who had damage in one of the designated counties should get registered."

"It's not a guarantee, but it is better to get in the system and see what is available than to miss it," Pickering later said.

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As of Thursday afternoon, 13,769 households registered for FEMA assistance in Montgomery County and $5,483,079. 01 had been approved. A total of 784,116 households statewide have registered for assistance, with $550 million in grants approved.

Inspectors are typically out in a matter of day, but for this large disaster it could take up to three weeks. FEMA currently has 2,048 inspectors out in the field. Once the property is inspected, a determination letter will be sent out. Pickering said if denied, read the reasons in the letter for the denial because it can sometimes be overcome by following instructions and reapplying. Funds can be received quickly, even within a day or less by electronic funds transfer. Someone who has received a denial and has questions can go to the disaster recovery assistance center for in-person support with their questions.

Individuals and businesses can go to the disaster recovery center where FEMA recovery specialists, the SBA, state and other agencies will be available to talk about assistance and offer guidance filling out applications, answering questions, and potentially help overcome some challenges. Filling out the application online and having the FEMA pin number and insurance policy beforehand can help expedite the process.

Those who have lost their government documents in the flood can call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 for more information about assistance options.

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The SBA has multiple disaster loans, which do have to be paid back, available for both individuals and businesses, including business physical disaster loans, economic injury disaster loans, and home disaster loans. SBA recommends submitteing the application even if a survivor is not sure they will need or want a loan.

Requirements include credit history, repayment and collateral. Fixed interest rates range from 1.75 to 6.61 percent depending on the loan and circumstances. The deadline to apply is Oct. 24 if it involves physical damage and May 25 if it involves economic injury. After applying to FEMA, a flood victim can apply to SBA at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

According to Colton, the SBA approval process takes about four weeks and funds are awarded soon after approval. He said about 4,400 loans and $367 million have been approved in declared counties from Corpus Christi to the Beaumont area.

Those who are not eligible for SBA assistance may be referred by FEMA to "Other Needs Assistance."

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To register with FEMA, visit disasterrelief.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. Disaster recovery centers are online at fema.gov/DRC. For more information about SBA's Disaster Assistance, call 800-659-2955, visit sba.gov/harvey or email disastercustomerservice.sba.gov.

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