FEMA Officials Tour Bellaire With Mayor, City Staff

BELLAIRE, TX — Bellaire Mayor Andrew Friedberg and other members of city staff met with FEMA officials this week to discuss options for the city and its residents during recovery after Hurricane Harvey’s wrath last week.

Friedberg said in a statement that in order for individuals to receive assistance, they must first register with FEMA to get in the system. Once a case number gets assigned, a call back is necessary to schedule a visit by a FEMA inspector.

Bellaire residents are encouraged to register with FEMA whether they have flood damage or not, and to not let having insurance deter them from registering as they still may be eligible for benefits.

City staff took the FEMA officials around the city so they could get an early assessment on what to expect when they visit with individual families.

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“We then took them on a driving tour through several of our neighborhoods so they could see for themselves the extent of the damage we sustained and get a handle on the sheer number of impacted homeowners in need of assistance,” Friedberg said. “They will allocate resources accordingly.”

Those resources could be delivered through direct deposit within a few days, Friedberg said.

“Eligibility determinations will be made for various individual assistance programs, including for transitional shelter, rentals and other needs,” Friedberg said.

FEMA will also have teams of 2-4 people per group who’ll walk neighborhoods to get folks registered with FEMA, provide updates to those who have already registered and to just be there for any questions that arise.

As FEMA and its people are in high demand, there’s also the possibility of imposters out there. Friedberg advises Bellaire residents on what to look for in a true FEMA representative.

“You can identify them by their light blue shirts bearing the FEMA logo (or sometimes red with a “FEMA Corps” logo), and you should ask to see their FEMA ID badges,” Friedberg said. “They will not demand or accept payment for any reason, and they will not try to enter your home.”

The city advises that if any resident suspect someone is a FEMA impersonator, then to not let them in their homes, do not give personal information and to call Bellaire Police at (713) 668-0487.

“FEMA personnel are obviously in high demand throughout our region, and they’re working hard to allocate resources and maintain a continuous presence here in Bellaire,” Friedberg said. “We will keep the lines of communication open and do what we can to facilitate their efforts to assist our residents.”

Top image: A van drives on flooded streets in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017, in Houston.

AP Photo/Matt Rourke