Disaster Resources: Hurricane Beryl
Table of Contents
This webpage has information and resources you can use to recover from Hurricane Beryl. The information below is subject to change, so check with the relevant government agency or organization to see what is available for you.
State and local partners continue to encourage the public to call 2-1-1, visit the 211 website, and monitor local media outlets for alerts and identification of resources.
Report damage
When you report property damage using iSTAT, you help emergency management officials have a better understanding of the damages that have occurred.
State Disaster Declaration
Acting Governor Dan Patrick made a state Disaster Declaration.
- July 5, 2024 declaration (39 counties): Atascosa, Bee, Bexar, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Frio, Goliad, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Lavaca, Live Oak, Matagorda, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Uvalde, Victoria, Webb, Wharton, Willacy, Wilson, Zapata, and Zavala Counties.
- July 5, 2024 amendment (added 1 county): Aransas County.
- July 6, 2024 amendment (added 81 counties): Anderson, Angelina, Austin, Bastrop, Bell, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Collin, Colorado, Comal, Dallas, Delta, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Galveston, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hill, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Jasper, Jefferson, Kaufman, Lamar, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, Marion, McLennan, Milam, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Robertson, Rockwall, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Van Zandt, Walker, Waller, Washington, Williamson, and Wood Counties
Federal Disaster Declaration
Gov. Abbott’s request for a Federal Major Disaster Declaration was approved by President Biden. More information about the federal disaster declaration is available at FEMA DR 4798.
Individual Assistance is available in 22 counties: Austin, Bowie, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Walker, Waller, and Wharton. To apply for Individual Assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA app. The deadline to apply for Individual Assistance is October 10, 2024.
FEMA is operating multiple Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). DRCs provide disaster survivors with information from federal agencies such as FEMA, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), local organizations and legal aid providers. Disaster survivors can get help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and get updates on applications.
FEMA Assistance for Generators: Because of extended power outages caused by Hurricane Beryl, Texans who purchased or rented generators between July 5 and July 20, 2024, in designated counties may be eligible for assistance under FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program. FEMA waived a requirement that applicants show that generators were purchased or rented to power a medically required piece of equipment, and applicants will not have to submit a statement from a medical services provider indicating that the generator is needed to power medically necessary equipment.
SBA disaster loans may be available to homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes in areas covered by the SBA disaster declaration. The deadline for Physical Damage filing has been extended to October 10, 2024. The deadline for Economic Injury filing is April 14, 2025.
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is no longer accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). The deadline to apply for DUA was September 9, 2024.
If your durable medical equipment (DME) or assistive technology (AT), sometimes called an adaptive aid (AA), was lost or damaged in the hurricane, see the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities’ Replacing Durable Medical Equipment and Assistive Technology Lost in Disasters.
FEMA resources
- Displacement Assistance
- Help for Survivors with Insurance
- Help with Home Repair
- Home Repairs and Improvements for Survivors with Disabilities
- How FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration Help Survivors Recover
- Serious Needs Assistance
- What If I Apply for FEMA Assistance Past the Deadline?
Other information & resources
Education
Did you child miss some special education and related services because Hurricane Beryl caused their school to close? If they did, see Make Sure Your Child Doesn’t Fall Behind Due to Beryl to learn how you can advocate for these services to be made up so your child can stay on track with their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Utilities
See power outages for CenterPoint and Entergy.
Sheltering
Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) is available in 17 counties. Under the TSA program, FEMA pays costs directly to participating hotels and motels, including room rates, taxes, and some pet fees. Texans participating in the TSA program are responsible for all other costs. Qualifying Texans who apply for federal disaster assistance in eligible counties will be notified by FEMA of more information about transitional sheltering options. Impacted Texans may qualify if they cannot return to their disaster-damaged home and their housing needs cannot be met by insurance, shelters, or rental assistance.
Also, for information about finding a locally-operated shelter, see TDEM’s Seasonal Relief Centers and Shelter Information or visit the American Red Cross’s Find Open Shelters page.
Damaged or lost food
Eligible households can receive mass replacements of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that were lost due to power outages from Hurricane Beryl.
SNAP recipients in eligible counties impacted by Hurricane Beryl are no longer allowed to purchase hot foods and ready-to-eat meals with their benefits. The waiver was available through September 15, 2024.
For more information about damaged or lost food related to Hurricane Beryl, including which counties are eligible for which benefits, visit the Disaster Nutrition Assistance webpage.
Price gouging
Price gouging is when a seller increases prices to an unreasonable level during a disaster when demand is high and supplies are limited. If you suspect price gouging, you can report it the the proper authorities.
There are three ways to report price gouging in Harris County:
- Email your complaint to consumerhelp@cao.hctx.net. Follow the instructions at cao.harriscountytx.gov.
- Text your complaint, pictures, and receipts to 346-352-7459.
- Complete the online Report Consumer Fraud form.
To report price gouging in Texas, you can call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at (800) 621-0508 or file a general complaint online.
Disaster Distress Helpline
The Disaster Distress Helpline is a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
- Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
- Español: Llama o envía un mensaje de texto 1-800-985-5990 presiona “2.”
- For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers: To connect directly to an agent in American Sign Language, use ASL Now or call 1-800-985-5990 from your videophone. ASL Support is available 24/7.
Local information & resources
Offices of Emergency Management (OEM)
- Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management
- Houston Office of Emergency Management
- Jasper County Emergency Management Homeland Security
- Liberty County Office of Emergency Management
- Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management
- Polk County Office of Emergency Management
- San Jacinto County Office of Emergency Management
- Walker County Office of Emergency Management
Legal resources
- State Bar of Texas Disaster Manual
- TexasLawHelp.org
- Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) provides free legal advocacy services for Texans with disabilities impacted by the recent disaster. Contact DRTx via email (disaster@drtx.org), phone (1-800-948-1824), or Sign Language Video Phone (1-866-362-2851).