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Agencies still have work to do following Ike
By Kassia Micek
THE WOODLANDS – A month after Hurricane Ike ripped through Montgomery County, local agencies continue to pick up the pieces.
Members of Montgomery County Community Assistance Recovery Efforts and Services, a collection of volunteer, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, met Thursday afternoon to discuss what agencies have accomplished and what still needs to be done to recover from the storm.
So far, 33,159 Montgomery County residents have filed assistance claims with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Henry Nielson, FEMA voluntary agency liaison for Montgomery, Harris and Liberty counties. Those filing claims included 14,602 homeowners and 6,079 renters.
Nineteen applicants received $28,800.
“That’s the highest grant FEMA gives to a person impacted by the storm,” Nielson said.
However, nine applicants did not pass the Small Business Administration loan process and were denied loans.
“Those are the ones we’re going to be most concerned about because the damage will probably be more than the $28,800 will cover, and they will need help,” said Julie Martineau, MCCARES co-chair and Montgomery County United Way president.
If the funds FEMA provides do not cover damages, an individual can appeal. However, people must file a claim first with their insurance company, if they have one.
“Insurance is really becoming a major concern in this process,” Nielson said. “Insurance policies are becoming more complex, and that fine print is becoming more and more important. … Insurance policies can be made with all kinds of variations.
“The victim needs to go through FEMA and the insurance company, the insurance company first. If insurance doesn’t cover everything, they can apply for FEMA assistance.”
To help residents file FEMA claims, a Disaster Recovery Center opened at the Montgomery County Central Library, located at 104 Interstate 45 in Conroe. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1-6 p.m. Sunday.
“That’s a direct contact with the office in Washington,” Nielson said.
FEMA has completed 50 percent of its inspections from Ike, which total nearly 10,000, Nielson said.
For more information, visit www.mc-cares.org.
Counseling: Tri-County Mental Health Mental Retardation is creating a crisis counseling program to help residents following Ike. Officials need to fill nearly a dozen positions. Counselors will be at the DRC Tuesday.
Meals: The Salvation Army served 78,716 meals during hurricane recovery.
Flu shots: The Friendship Center will provide free flu shots to those 55 or older the week of Oct. 20 at three different locations. The Montgomery County United Way Conroe office will have 30 free flu shots for senior citizens Oct. 30.
Flu shots also are available through Lone Star Family Health Center. For more information, call (936) 539-4004.
Housing: Montgomery County Emergency Assistance is providing $300 for rent/mortgage to those who qualify. For more information, call (936) 539-9211.
AmeriCorps: A team from AmeriCorps St. Louis is in Montgomery County to provide assistance with volunteer coordination.
Where to go
A Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Recovery Center is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1-6 p.m. Sunday at the Montgomery County Central Library, located at 104 Interstate 45 in Conroe.
What’s next
The deadline to apply for emergency food stamps is Wednesday. To apply, visit the Montgomery County United Way office, located at 731 W. Davis in Conroe, or call (936) 760-4179.
More info
FEMA’s hotel/motel disaster assistance housing has been extended to Nov. 1. For more information, visit www.fema.gov or www.mc-cares.org.
By the numbers
Montgomery County
• 33,159: number of people who registered for FEMA assistance
• 41,798: number of housing units
• 76 percent: homes affected by Hurricane Ike
• 14,602: number of homeowners who filed FEMA claims
• 6,079: number of renters who filed FEMA claims
• 19: number of claims to get the maximum FEMA allowance ($28,800)
• 9: number of claims that did not pass Small Business Administration loan process
What’s next
The deadline to apply for emergency food stamps is Wednesday. To apply, visit the Montgomery County United Way office, located at 731 W. Davis in Conroe, or call (936) 760-4179.
More info
FEMA’s hotel/motel disaster assistance housing has been extended to Nov. 1. For more information, visit www.fema.gov.
More info
For more information, visit www.mc-cares.org.
Members of Montgomery County Community Assistance Recovery Efforts and Services, a collection of volunteer, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, met Thursday afternoon to discuss what agencies have accomplished and what still needs to be done to recover from the storm.
So far, 33,159 Montgomery County residents have filed assistance claims with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Henry Nielson, FEMA voluntary agency liaison for Montgomery, Harris and Liberty counties. Those filing claims included 14,602 homeowners and 6,079 renters.
Nineteen applicants received $28,800.
“That’s the highest grant FEMA gives to a person impacted by the storm,” Nielson said.
However, nine applicants did not pass the Small Business Administration loan process and were denied loans.
“Those are the ones we’re going to be most concerned about because the damage will probably be more than the $28,800 will cover, and they will need help,” said Julie Martineau, MCCARES co-chair and Montgomery County United Way president.
If the funds FEMA provides do not cover damages, an individual can appeal. However, people must file a claim first with their insurance company, if they have one.
“Insurance is really becoming a major concern in this process,” Nielson said. “Insurance policies are becoming more complex, and that fine print is becoming more and more important. … Insurance policies can be made with all kinds of variations.
“The victim needs to go through FEMA and the insurance company, the insurance company first. If insurance doesn’t cover everything, they can apply for FEMA assistance.”
To help residents file FEMA claims, a Disaster Recovery Center opened at the Montgomery County Central Library, located at 104 Interstate 45 in Conroe. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1-6 p.m. Sunday.
“That’s a direct contact with the office in Washington,” Nielson said.
FEMA has completed 50 percent of its inspections from Ike, which total nearly 10,000, Nielson said.
For more information, visit www.mc-cares.org.
Counseling: Tri-County Mental Health Mental Retardation is creating a crisis counseling program to help residents following Ike. Officials need to fill nearly a dozen positions. Counselors will be at the DRC Tuesday.
Meals: The Salvation Army served 78,716 meals during hurricane recovery.
Flu shots: The Friendship Center will provide free flu shots to those 55 or older the week of Oct. 20 at three different locations. The Montgomery County United Way Conroe office will have 30 free flu shots for senior citizens Oct. 30.
Flu shots also are available through Lone Star Family Health Center. For more information, call (936) 539-4004.
Housing: Montgomery County Emergency Assistance is providing $300 for rent/mortgage to those who qualify. For more information, call (936) 539-9211.
AmeriCorps: A team from AmeriCorps St. Louis is in Montgomery County to provide assistance with volunteer coordination.
Where to go
A Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Recovery Center is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1-6 p.m. Sunday at the Montgomery County Central Library, located at 104 Interstate 45 in Conroe.
What’s next
The deadline to apply for emergency food stamps is Wednesday. To apply, visit the Montgomery County United Way office, located at 731 W. Davis in Conroe, or call (936) 760-4179.
More info
FEMA’s hotel/motel disaster assistance housing has been extended to Nov. 1. For more information, visit www.fema.gov or www.mc-cares.org.
By the numbers
Montgomery County
• 33,159: number of people who registered for FEMA assistance
• 41,798: number of housing units
• 76 percent: homes affected by Hurricane Ike
• 14,602: number of homeowners who filed FEMA claims
• 6,079: number of renters who filed FEMA claims
• 19: number of claims to get the maximum FEMA allowance ($28,800)
• 9: number of claims that did not pass Small Business Administration loan process
What’s next
The deadline to apply for emergency food stamps is Wednesday. To apply, visit the Montgomery County United Way office, located at 731 W. Davis in Conroe, or call (936) 760-4179.
More info
FEMA’s hotel/motel disaster assistance housing has been extended to Nov. 1. For more information, visit www.fema.gov.
More info
For more information, visit www.mc-cares.org.
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