FEMA, SBA & disaster aid now
Register, documents, DRCs, duplication of benefits, local aid, and appeals.
Home / FEMA, SBA & disaster aid now
Status, maps, and claim portals change by the hour. Open the org site. Do not trust a screenshot from last night.
- DisasterAssistance.gov Apply when a declaration covers your county. Aid generally cannot duplicate insurance.
- 211 Texas Shelter, food, utility, and recovery referrals. Dial 211 if the sites lag.
- Texas Department of Insurance storm resources Claim FAQs and complaints. Help line 800-252-3439 if you cannot find your carrier.
- SBA disaster loans Home and business loans after a declaration. Separate from FEMA grants.
- West Street Recovery research Northeast Houston lessons on why aid misses people and why local navigators matter.
- West Street: barriers to Harvey repair aid Resident-led view of paperwork, landlords, and long-term repair gaps.
- Ready Harris Harris County OEM notices, alerts, and shelter posts. Recheck before you drive.
Appealing a FEMA decision without losing your mind
Read the letter, calendar the appeal window, and send missing proof, because an appeal is a file, not a speech.
Avoiding FEMA impersonation scams
FEMA will not charge you to register, demand gift cards, or need your PIN on the porch, so hang up and use the official number.
Disaster recovery centers: what to bring
A Disaster Recovery Center is a help desk, not a cash window, so bring ID, address proof, insurance papers, photos, and your application numbers.
Documents you need before you sit down to apply
You can start a FEMA or SBA file with a phone and a photo of a wet driver's license, then add the rest of a short stack before you sit down.
Duplication of benefits: insurance and FEMA together
You cannot be paid twice for the same ruined floor, so tell FEMA and the carrier the truth and keep one ledger.
How to register for FEMA assistance after a Houston flood
Register yourself at DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362 once Harris County or Houston is declared, and do not pay a helper to do it.
If the presidential declaration is still pending
A pending declaration pauses FEMA registration, not photos, insurance, or local help, so use the wait.
Local Harris County and city assistance programs
City and county help is 311, Harris County OEM, 211, debris rules, and health notices, not a second FEMA with a Houston logo.
SBA disaster loans for homeowners and small businesses
SBA disaster loans are real money you pay back on SBA.gov if the declaration includes this area, not a FEMA grant.
What FEMA might pay for (and what it will not)
FEMA help is limited and needs-based, not a second flood policy, and it will not rebuild your wish list.