Fort Bend County HS&EMFort Bend County HS&EM

Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Recovery

Fort Bend Recovers…with Creativity is inviting you to the Harvey Experience!

The Harvey Experience is an anniversary event that will showcase original creative works created by residents of Fort Bend County who were impacted by Hurricane Harvey.  The Harvey Experience is scheduled for August 25, 2018 from 12-2pm at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.  The event is free to attend!

If you are a resident of Fort Bend County, we invite you to express how Harvey impacted you through a poem, a story, a song, a quilt, a painting, a photo, or other creative means.  Creative works can express suffering or despair, anger, happiness, hope, or resilience.  Expressing your experiences may help you and those who view your art better cope with the damage that Harvey left behind.   All ages are welcome to submit!  Works must be submitted by August 1, 2018. 

These works of art will showcase a piece of Fort Bend County history for generations to come.

 For more information on the Harvey Experience or to find out how you can submit works of art to the event visit our website: http://www.fortbendrecovers.org/with-creativity/  

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center to Close / SBA Cierra un Centro de Promoción y Asistencia para Préstamos de Desastres

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West announced today that SBA will close its Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Simonton Community Church at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017.

“SBA opened the center to provide personalized assistance to Texas businesses and residents who were affected by Hurricane Harvey that occurred Aug. 23 – Sept. 15, 2017. Until the Simonton center closes, SBA customer service representatives will continue to be available to meet with businesses and residents to answer their questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program and close their approved disaster loans,” said Garfield.

Businesses and residents can meet with SBA representatives on the days and times indicated below. No appointment is necessary.

FORT BEND COUNTY

Disaster Loan Outreach Center

Simonton Community Church

9703 FM 1489

Simonton, TX  77476

Monday – Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Closes 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20

SBA representatives are still available at all the federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers, SBA Business Recovery Centers and SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers throughout the affected areas to explain SBA’s disaster loan program and help business owners and residents close their approved disaster loans.

Even though the deadline to apply for a loan for property damage has passed, small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size still have until May 25, 2018, to apply for an economic injury disaster loan to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage. Business owners may apply online using SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Interest rates can be as low as 3.305 percent for businesses and 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

To receive additional disaster assistance information, visit SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155.

SBA Cierra un Centro de Promoción y Asistencia para Préstamos de Desastres

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Tanya N. Garfield, Directora del Centro Oeste de Operaciones de Terreno para Desastres (Disaster Field Operations Center-West) de la Administración Federal de Pequeños Negocios (SBA por sus siglas en inglés) anunció el día de hoy que SBA cerrará permanentemente el Centro de Promoción y Asistencia para Préstamos de Desastres ubicado en la Iglesia de la Comunidad de Simonton este Miércoles 20 de Diciembre a las 6 p.m.

“SBA abrió el centro para brindar asistencia personalizada a los negocios y residentes de Texas que se vieron afectados por el Huracán Harvey que ocurrió entre el 23 de Agosto y el 15 de Septiembre de 2017. Hasta que se cierre éste centro ubicado en Jasper, los representantes de servicio al cliente de SBA seguirán disponibles para reunirse con dueños de negocios y residentes para responder a sus preguntas, explicarles el programa de préstamos de desastres de SBA y cerrar sus préstamos aprobados,” dijo Garfield.

Los dueños de negocios y residentes pueden reunirse con los representantes de SBA en los días y horarios indicados a continuación. No es necesario hacer una cita.

FORT BEND COUNTY

SBA Centro de Promoción y Asistencia para Préstamos de Desastres

Simonton Community Church

9703 FM 1489

Simonton, TX  77476

Lunes – Miércoles, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Cierra a las 6 p.m. el Miércoles, 20 de Diciembre

Representantes de SBA seguirán disponibles en todos los Centros de Recuperación de Desastres del gobierno federal y del estado, en los Centros de Recuperación para Negocios y en los Centros de Promoción y Asistencia para Préstamos de SBA que están ubicados en las zonas afectadas, para explicar el programa de préstamos de desastres y ayudar a los propietarios de negocios y residentes a cerrar sus préstamos aprobados.

Aunque la fecha límite para solicitar un préstamo por daños a la propiedad ha pasado, los pequeños negocios, pequeñas cooperativas agrícolas, pequeños negocios involucrados en acuacultura y la mayoría de organizaciones sin fines de lucro de todos tamaños, todavía tienen hasta el 25 de Mayo de 2018 para solicitar un Préstamo de Desastre para Pérdidas Económicas (EIDL) para ayudar a cubrir las necesidades de capital de trabajo causadas por el desastre. Estos préstamos (EIDL) están disponibles, independientemente de si el negocio sufrió algún daño físico en la propiedad. Los propietarios de negocios también pueden aplicar en línea utilizando el sitio web seguro de SBA en https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Las tasas de interés de los préstamos para negocios, pueden ser tan bajas de hasta 3.305 por ciento y de 2.5 por ciento para organizaciones sin fines de lucro, para plazos de hasta 30 años. Los montos y términos de los préstamos son establecidos por SBA y se basan en las condiciones financieras de cada solicitante.

Los interesados pueden recibir información adicional sobre asistencia de desastres en www.sba.gov/disaster. También pueden llamar al Centro de Servicio a Clientes para Asistencia de Desastres de SBA marcando (800) 659-2955 o enviando un correo electrónico a disastercustomerservice@sba.gov para obtener mayor información. Las personas sordas o con problemas de audición pueden llamar al (800) 877-8339. Las solicitudes completadas en papel deben enviarse por correo a U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155.

 

Frequently Asked Recovery Questions

Question: What is the status of the 2016 hazard mitigation grant for buyouts and elevations? 

Answer: The State of Texas has reviewed Fort Bend County’s grant application and has recommended to FEMA that $10 million of our $17 million grant application be funded.  It is unknown at this point if the remaining $7 million will be recommended by the State.  FEMA still needs to review and approve our grant application.

Question: How will the 2016 hazard mitigation grant funds be distributed?

Answer: Fort Bend County residents had the opportunity to apply for buyouts and elevations following the 2016 flooding disasters.  Fort Bend County then submitted two applications (October 2016 and January 2017) to the State of Texas and FEMA with a list of properties that applied for the grant.  It is these properties that will be funded pending State and FEMA approval.

If a resident of a property on the grant application decides to not accept the grant funding, a property off the Alternate Property List will then be substituted in its place.

Question: What was the ranking system that Fort Bend County used to prioritize the properties that applied for the buyouts and elevations in 2016?

Answer: Priority Ranking System (as decided by Fort Bend County Commissioners Court):

  1. Properties in the Floodway that were estimated to be Substantially Damaged
  2. Properties in the Floodway that were damaged
  3. Properties in the Floodplain that were estimated to be Substantially Damaged
  4. Properties in the Floodplain that were damaged

In each of these categories, the earlier a property owner submits their required documents the higher they will be ranked.

Question: Will the hazard mitigation grant fund elevations in the floodway?

Answer: No.  Elevation of homes in the floodway would have left these properties in future risk, and homeowners in danger of future flooding. Fort Bend County’s Floodplain Regulations also discourages elevations located in the Floodway, and requires an in depth no rise certification to be completed.

Question: What is the Alternate Property List?

Answer: The Alternate Property Lists acts like a wait list.  Anyone that did not make it on the 2016 grant application submitted to the State and FEMA can be placed on this list.  The hazard mitigation grant allows for the ability to have an alternate properties list in the event that owners of properties change their mind and decide to not participate in the grant for whatever reason.  Fort Bend County has been taking additional steps to capture the information of owners who may be interested in a buyout/elevation if future funding becomes available.

If you are interested in being placed on the Alternate Property List, please contact Caroline Egan at the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management at caroline.egan@fortbendcountytx.gov.

Question: Can residents who applied for the 2016 hazard mitigation grant be reimbursed for the cost of raising their houses if they meet the local permitting requirements since the elevation of their homes is a necessity for these residents? 

Answer: Unfortunately, no.  FEMA guidance for the hazard mitigation grant does not allow for reimbursement.  According to the FEMA Hazard Mitigaiton Assistance Guidance document (see the bottom of page 42):

Ineligible activity: Projects for which actual physical work, such as groundbreaking, demolition, or construction of a raised foundation, has occurred prior to award or final approval. Projects for which demolition and debris removal related to structures proposed for acquisition or mitigation reconstruction has already occurred may be eligible when such activities were initiated or completed under the FEMA PA program to alleviate a health or safety hazard as a result of a disaster.

Question: Does the County have any funding available for all economic classes to assist residents at this time to elevate their homes? 

Answer: No.  The County is working to see if  Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funding can be used to fund elevations. If so, this funding will be for homes impacted in 2016.  Per US Department of Housing and Urban Development (the agency in charge of the Community Development Block Grants) guidance, homes in the floodway will not be eligible for elevations.

 

Contact a Case Manager

If you were affected by Hurricane Harvey, then contact a case management group.  Case Managers will assist you with creating a recovery plan including assistance with basic needs, home repairs, and mental and spiritual health.  For more information on how to contact a case manager click on the link below. 

Fort Bend Recovers Case Management 

 

 

 

Debris Pickup 9/07 – Sienna Plantation and Riverstone

Debris will be picked up in the Sienna Plantation and Riverstone areas on September 7th, make sure you move your vehicles off the street or your debris won’t be picked up.

See our links below for a additional debris management information!

Separating your debris : http://fbcoem.org/separating-your-debris-separando-sus-escombros/

Debris Pickup Video : http://fbcoem.org/hurricane-harvey-debris-pick-up-in-fort-bend-county/