Help for Those Affected by Hurricane Ike

If you or a loved one is affected by Hurricane Ike there are sources of assistance available. Following are some tips for how to begin the process of recovering from this disaster:

If You Need Safe Shelter. The American Red Cross is operating shelters in many locations that offer food, shelter, medical attention, assistance contacting loved ones and help to begin the process of applying for federal or local assistance. To find a shelter near you, call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-866-GETINFO (1-866-438-4636). You can search for a loved one, or list yourself as safe and well for concerned friends and family members, by visiting the Red Cross' "Safe and Well List."

Contact your Insurance Company(ies). If you have homeowners' or renter's insurance contact your insurance company as soon as possible. They should be able to explain what your policy covers and help you apply for benefits which you can use to make repairs and/or rebuild. Your insurance policy may also include coverage for living expenses while you are recovering from the disaster. If your car was damaged or destroyed, contact your car insurance company agent to explain what happened and to begin the process of filing a claim.

File your Flood Insurance or Windstorm Insurance Claim. Learn more about flood insurance and windstorm insurance; visit FEMA's Floodsmart website to learn how to file your claim if you have a policy.

Contact your Mortgage Lender. If you hold a mortgage and your home was affected you are responsible for making timely payments on the loan regardless of whether or not you can live in your home. Contact your mortgage lender to notify them about your situation, to let them know you have contacted your insurance company and to discuss any possible assistance they may offer loan holders including loan modifications and case-by-case assistance. If you have a USDA Rural Development single-family home loan call the Centralized Servicing Center (CSC) at 1-800-414-1226 to discuss your loan or contact the USDA Rural Development office in your state for assistance.

Look into FEMA Assistance. If you live in an area that has been declared a disaster and you do not have insurance you may be eligible for assistance from FEMA with your housing needs and disaster-related needs other than housing (i.e. medical care, clothing, clean-up items, etc.). Call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) or TTY: 1-800-462-7585 to see if your area has been declared a disaster area or use FEMA's Map Service Center website. To apply for FEMA assistance, contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA, apply through FEMA's website or obtain paperwork and/or help from an American Red Cross center.

Check into State and Local Assistance. In addition to federal assistance you may want to contact your Mayor's office or local government to learn about short-term assistance from local relief organizations and government agencies or longer-term relief such as low interest loans for repair or rebuilding.

Stop Services and Utilities. If you are unable to live in your home, contact your utility companies (water, electric, gas, garbage, newspaper delivery, phone, cable, etc.) so that you can have services disconnected until further notice.

Contact Creditors. If you have outstanding debt with credit card companies, car loan, student loans, etc., it's a good idea to contact your creditors to let them know what's happened and to learn about what options may be available to you. Your lender(s) may be able to postpone your payment due date or defer the loan/debt payments until you are able to financially recover.

Re-direct Mail. If you cannot receive mail at your home decide where you can most easily access your mail (i.e. your temporary housing, the home of friends or relatives, a post office (P.O.) box or to have held at the post office for personal pick-up) and complete paperwork to have your mail forwarded.

Get Veteran Benefit Assistance. If you are a veteran and need assistance with insurance benefits from the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), call 1-800-827-1000.

Look into Social Security Assistance. If you receive regular monthly Social Security benefits or need assistance applying for disability or survivor benefits, you can obtain help from the Social Security Administration by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting their website.

Check on unemployment benefits. If your job (even self-employment) was affected by Hurricane Ike you may be eligible for special disaster unemployment assistance. Disaster unemployment payments are available to people who:

  • were working or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment;
  • can no longer work or perform services because of hurricane damage to the workplace;
  • can establish that their work or self-employment was their primary source of income;
  • don't qualify for regular jobless benefits from another state;
  • can't work because of an hurricane injury;
  • became the family's major financial supporter because the head of household died. 

Apply for benefits online at Texasworkforce.org and have your Social Security number, your most recent federal income tax return and documentation that can prove you were working at the time of the hurricane on hand to complete the application. For more information on benefits you can also call the commission's call center during regular business hours at (800) 939-6631.

  • Contact the USDA. If you own or are a tenant operator of a family-sized farm or ranch and your ranch, property or crops were damaged or destroyed, you should contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency to determine if you qualify for a loan to repair or restore your property. In addition, if you are a low-income elderly or low-income rural resident, you may qualify for a low interest rate loan or home repair grant between $7,500 and $20,000. Learn more about the Very Low-Income Housing Repair program or contact your county USDA Rural Development Office to learn more about eligibility requirements and the application process to receive funds.
  • Check out Small Business Administration (SBA) Assistance Programs. If your business has suffered substantial economic injury, regardless of physical damage, and is located in a declared disaster area you may be eligible for Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance through their Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The program helps qualified businesses and nonprofit organizations pay bills and meet obligations until operations return to normal by providing loans up to $1.5 million. In addition the SBA provides low-interest loans and grants for up to $40,000 to homeowners and renters wanting to replace personal property and loans for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence to its pre-disaster condition through its Disaster Assistance for Homeowners and Renters program.
  • Apply for IRS Help or a Tax Extension. If you missed your quarterly estimated tax payment due to the disaster you may be eligible for an extension on your payment from the IRS. You may also be able to apply for relief of penalties and interest for late payments and claim losses on uninsured or unreimbursed property damage on your tax return. Learn more about Hurricane Ike-related tax relief from the IRS.
  • Beware of Financial Scams. While natural disasters elicit financial donations and support from people across the country it also, unfortunately, creates an opportunity for con artists - those who may try to swindle you out of your money or scam you by offering fraudulent services such as help with construction or rebuilding. Do not give out your personal information or money to anyone without proper identification or proof they can do what they say they can. If someone approaches you and cannot provide appropriate identification, go to a disaster assistance site (i.e. run by FEMA, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, your local or state government, etc.) and ask for help. Get copies of all financial transactions and commitments in writing and keep a small notebook to write down the names and contact information of people with whom you speak during this critical time of recovery and rebuilding.

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