Sites serve as one-stop shops for disaster relief

LA VILLA -- Three disaster recovery centers across the Rio Grande Valley are providing area residents with an array of services to help them overcome challenges related to Hurricane Dolly.

The centers are a joint federal and state effort to assist Cameron, Willacy and Hidalgo county residents who suffered losses from Dolly, which made landfall in the Valley on July 23 as a Category 2 storm.

The three sites offer "one-stop shopping" for services that include help applying for government disaster assistance, said Jerry Hagins, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Insurance, which has relocated three of its four consumer assistance teams to the centers.

As of the close of business Monday, nearly $2.7 million had been approved in federal and state disaster assistance for residents of the three counties, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The money is intended to assist in meeting residents' immediate housing needs and replacing lost personal property.

FEMA had recorded more than 12,700 applicants for assistance as of Tuesday, and more than 700 people had visited the three recovery centers.

The agency has declared that only Cameron, Willacy and Hidalgo county residents whose losses are not covered by insurance are eligible to apply for money and services through FEMA's Individuals and Households Program, said Jody Correro, a FEMA spokesman stationed at the La Villa disaster recovery center.

Valley residents who wish to apply for FEMA aid are not required to go to the centers to register, but those who do are able to meet face-to-face with an application officer who assigns them a case number.

Most applicants then meet with a representative from the U.S. Small Business Administration, which in many cases can offer low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Other applicants may meet with a Texas Department of Insurance representative or someone who can help alleviate their concerns, Correro said.

"They've given us the information we've needed," Elsa resident Linda Segura said Tuesday at the La Villa center. Her garage and roof sustained damage from the hurricane.

Segura had already completed the initial FEMA assistance application and was waiting to meet with an SBA representative at the disaster recovery center.

"You need to fill (the FEMA aid application) out as soon as possible," SBA spokesman Ben Raju said "The reason being is, if for some reason the SBA is not able to provide you with the loan, they will refer you back to FEMA for possible other needs assistance."

Applicants who don't first register with FEMA risk not receiving any aid if the SBA turns them down, Raju said.

FEMA plans to keep the disaster recovery centers open at least a few more days, but Correro said the centers could remain in operation until area residents cease seeking help at them.

In addition to staffing the three centers, the Texas Department of Insurance has dispatched insurance specialists to Home Depot, 409 N. Jackson Road, Pharr, to provide in-person assistance to people affected by the hurricane.

Department staff are available at that location 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Staff can help with questions about filing claims, contacting insurance agents or other insurance matters. Help also is available by calling (800) 252-3439.

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Lynnea Olivarez covers general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4422.

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Disaster recovery centers

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has three mobile disaster recovery units in the Rio Grande Valley to help victims of Hurricane Dolly register for federal aid. The units are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Locations are subject to change, but the units are currently stationed at these sites:

>> Hidalgo County: La Villa Middle School Multipurpose Room, 500 E. Ninth St., La Villa.

>> Cameron County: Harlingen Municipal Auditorium, 1204 Fair Park Blvd., Harlingen.

>> Willacy County: American Legion, 211 W. Hidalgo Ave., Raymondville.

Aid also can be applied for by visiting www.fema.gov or calling (800) 621-3362 or TTY (800) 462-7585.

Who to call for help:

>> FEMA: (800) 621-3362 or (800) 462-7585 (TTY for the speech and hearing impaired)

>> Texas assistance hotline: 2-1-1

>> Hidalgo County Hurricane Hotline: (956) 318-2903

Important Information to have available before calling FEMA:

>> Current phone number.

>> Address at the time of the disaster and current residence.

>> Social Security number, if available.

>> A general list of damages and losses suffered.

>> If insured, the insurance policy number or the names of the agent and insurance company.