Spend Wisely and Keep Receipts, FEMA Cautions

Updated :: Mon, 01/26/2009

FEMA has distributed more than $466 million to Texans affected by Hurricane Ike for housing assistance and other disaster-related expenses.

Individuals are cautioned to use the money wisely, and for the purposes intended.

Funds for housing and Other Needs Assistance are intended to help meet basic disaster-related needs, replace losses in personal property and begin rebuilding their lives.

If an applicant uses payments on anything other than what the funds are intended for, the applicant might not be able to receive future disaster assistance or may have to repay funds.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for minimal temporary repairs on damaged homes, temporary housing, or other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources. Some designated payments may be issued to cover losses for household items, disaster-related medical expenses or other disaster-related needs or losses.

A letter explaining a payment's purpose should arrive within a day or two of the check or direct deposit payment.

Grant recipients are urged to keep receipts for three years to demonstrate how the money was used to meet disaster-related needs. They are required to sign a declaration certifying all funds will be spent for their intended purposes. If a recipient receives an insurance settlement to cover the same expenses, he or she must reimburse FEMA. Random audits may be done to confirm funds were spent properly. For more information on audits, visit http://www.houstonhurricanerecovery.org/node/80

The deadline to register with FEMA for assistance is Feb. 20.

DONATE TO RELIEF
EFFORTS!

Checks can be made payable
to Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund:

Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund
c/o The Greater Houston
Community Foundation
4550 Post Oak Place
Suite 100
Houston, TX 77027
www.ghcf.org

Mayor Bill White has
established a relief fund to
help fill unmet human needs
for victims of Hurricane Ike in
Houston, and Harris and
Galveston Counties and other
affected areas. The Fund is
being administered by Albert
Myres, senior vice president
at Reliant Energy, with
fundraising and distribution
overseen by a special citizens
advisory board. The Fund is
now accepting donations and
is assessing humanitarian
needs. People are asked to
mail donations to the above
mailing address or donate
online at the above website.

The Gulf Coast Ike Relief
Fund is modeled after the
successful Katrina/Rita Fund,
which was also managed for
the region by Myres.

To contribute online please go
to www.ghcf.org and then the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund
DONATE NOW button.

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