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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has several programs available for survivors of the July storms and flooding that swept through Central Texas. These services include confidential crisis counseling and unemployment assistance.
FEMA funds the crisis counseling program, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and provides counseling to residents of Burnet, Kerr, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis and Williamson counties.
The Disaster Distress Helpline, a toll-free, national crisis support service, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Affected persons can call or text 800-9855990 to speak to trained staff who can provide confidential counseling and other support services. The staff can also connect callers with professionals at the nearest participating crisiscounseling center for additional support.
Access to counselors is available in more than 100 languages via third-party interpretation services. Spanish speakers can press 2. A videophone option for American Sign Language users is also available by calling 800-985-5990 from a videophoneenabled device. For more information, visit samhsa.gov/findhelp/ disaster-distresshelpline.
FEMA also funds the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program managed by the Texas Workforce Commission. Those who lost a job or income as a direct result of the July 2-18 flooding may be eligible for financial assistance.
Unemployment benefits may be available to those who lived, worked or were scheduled to work in the six counties designated for assistance. Disaster Unemployment Assistance is also available to business owners and those who are self-employed.
Those affected have until Thursday, Sept. 4, to apply online at the Unemployment Benefit Services portal at https://apps.twc.texa s.gov/UBS/security/ logon.do or by phone at 800-9396631.
For more information, visit the Texas Workforce Commission webpage: twc.texas.gov.
For the latest information about the Texas recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/ 4879.
