Mobile homes or recreational vehicles are a possibility to help Texans recovering from Hurricane Harvey, said Bryan Preston, a spokesman from the Texas General Land Office.
The land office has taken the lead to use federal money for statewide storm recovery. Land office Communicatons Director Bryan Preston talked with KOGT’s Gary Stelly Thursday in a live phone interview on The Morning Show.
He said Harvey in Texas caused “a swath of damage larger than the state of Indiana.” The storm caused wind damage initially in South Texas around Rockport and then flood damage in other parts, including Orange County.
Housing is a major problem now and he said the GLO is “pushing industries” to bring in manufactured homes or RVs to help people, he said. Manufacturers do not have much stock. Not only is Texas suffering, but housing is also needed in Florida after Irma, plus Puerto Rico was hit by Maria.
However, the only way to get any help for Harvey recovery is by filing with FEMA, Preston said. Filing can be done in person at a Disaster Recovery Center (the one in Orange County is at the Expo Center on FM 1442), by phone or through the internet.
Preston said Governor Greg Abbott asked the General Land Office to work with the federal agency for Texas recovery “so that red tape doesn’t move into the way.” This is the first time FEMA and the GLO partnership is being used. The governor wanted the state to join the recovery “to get Texans back home as quickly as possible,” he said.
Information on the available programs is now online at texasrebuilds.com.
Other options for housing includes PREPS (Partial Repair and Essential Power for Shelters). The program helps homeowners make minor repairs so they can live in a damaged house as more repairs are made.
DAHR (Direct Assistance for Limited Home Repairs) lets homeowners with significant damage make repairs so the house is livable. A FEMA inspector must make the decision on a case by case basis.
Preston said FEMA inspectors are now overwhelmed but are working. More than 322,000 houses in Texas have been inspected so far, he said.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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