AUSTIN -- More assistance is coming to Texas wildfire survivors soon.
A new initiative launched by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will give survivors in 23 counties follow-up phone calls by outreach experts. Officials say they are hoping to help applicants with the appeals process and will explain letters they may have received from FEMA. Experts will also help with gathering papers needed for their claims.
The state and FEMA have approved more than $13.5 million since the summer wildfires to go toward helping families affected. Those grants will help with housing and other needs like medical expenses and personal property replacement.
The number includes $1 million set aside for this outreach initiative.
"With this proactive approach we're reducing the number of survivors determined ineligible for federal assistance because of incomplete or missing information," said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Hannes of FEMA. "The recovery process is difficult for those who suffered great loss, and we want to ensure all survivors get the maximum grant they are eligible to receive."
The outreach effort will continue until each survivor has been contacted by FEMA.
