(The Center Square) – Initial emergency funds and resources are being made available to flood victims and survivors impacted by severe flood weather beginning July 2 and ongoing in central Texas.
Crisis Emotional Support Line: 833-812-2480
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission launched the Texas Flooding Emotional Support Line for survivors, families, first responders, and others affected by the disaster to call 24/7. All calls are confidential and answered by personnel specially trained to work with disaster survivors.
iSTAT damage reporting
Those impacted by catastrophic flooding are encouraged to submit information about damaged homes and businesses through the state’s Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) damage survey here.
Disaster unemployment benefits
Those impacted in disaster designated counties are encouraged to apply for disaster unemployment benefits through the Texas Workforce Commission online or by calling 1-800-939-6631. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 4 and must specify the claim is related to the Hill Country flooding.
Disaster relief counties
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 21 counties: Bandera, Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reeves, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis and Williamson.
So far, FEMA has approved a state request for disaster relief in the counties of Burnet, Kerr, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson.
FEMA Individual Assistance
Qualifying residents in Burnet, Kerr, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis and Williamson are encouraged to apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program. FEMA disaster assistance applications can be made online or by calling 800-621-3362. Additional counties may be added as additional damage assessments are completed in impacted communities.
FEMA has approved public assistance funds for emergency work and repairing or replacing disaster-damaged facilities in Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Menard and San Saba counties. A request from Texas to authorize additional FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program resources statewide remains pending.
Hospital grants
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission awarded more than $1.9 million in grants to hospitals in Kerrville and Llano; $5 million is being made available through the Texas Micro-Business Disaster Recovery Loan Program.
Peterson Regional Medical Center in Kerrville will receive an emergency hardship grant of $1.5 million; Llano Regional Hospital will receive more than $396,000.
The grants will help the hospitals cover unplanned expenses related to the flood and can be used to repair structural damage, fix equipment, provide staffing support and address operational issues, the governor’s office said. Funding is made available for rural hospitals through the Rural Hospital Services Strategic Plan. More information can be found here.
Microbusiness interest free loans
In the counties where Abbott declared a disaster declaration that received FEMA approval for assistance, $5 million in grant money is being made available to microbusinesses through the Texas Micro-Business Disaster Recovery (MBDR) Loan Program to facilitate zero-interest loans from Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). The loans apply to businesses with no more than 20 employees that have difficulty in accessing capital in response to a disaster.
Funding is available through Aug. 31. More information can be found here. A list of approved CDFIs participating in the loan program can be found here.
Broadband funds
The state comptroller’s office also announced it was accepting applications for more than $3.8 billion in available funds for broadband, which could be used in Kerr County and surrounding rural areas with limited cell phone reception, The Center Square reported.
Relief organizations
The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, a nonprofit public charity, is directly distributing donations to vetted local organizations that are providing rescue, relief, recovery services and flood assistance in impacted communities including Boerne, Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point and Comfort. Other organizations are also providing relief, which can be found here.
