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Residents not eligible for disaster aid
Published October 4, 2005
ANGLETON — Though Brazoria County has been declared a disaster area by President Bush, the county’s residents still aren’t eligible for aid for evacuation expenses.
The federal government added Brazoria County to the list of counties eligible for reimbursement of expenses incurred as Hurricane Rita approached the Texas coastline. That means residents might be able to get reimbursed if they have property damage.
The move also means the county can be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of the money it spent on preparations, including overtime for employees required to work and food bought to feed those employees.
What the declaration doesn’t do is offer financial assistance to people who evacuated because of the storm.
Calls to Federal Emergency Management Agency offices in Washington, D.C., Denton and the helpline were not answered Monday.
Joe Gardzina, assistant executive director of the United Way of Brazoria County, said the agency is trying to get the Federal Emergency Management Agency to set up a Disaster Relief Center in the county.
The county has more people affected by Katrina than Rita, and a center could help both, Gardzina said.
“We just haven’t seen a lot of Rita folks,” Gardzina said. “There wasn’t a lot of damage for folks here in Brazoria County.”
The United Way continues to receive calls from people wanting to know if they can be reimbursed for expenses such as gasoline and lodging during their evacuation.
“The FEMA help that’s offered for this county, even though we’re approved, it just doesn’t apply,” Gardzina said.
He said the FEMA Web site allows Brazoria County residents to apply for reimbursements, but doesn’t offer any encouragement.
“You can type in stuff like, ‘I’d like to be reimbursed for spoiled food’ and it will tell you that you don’t qualify,” Gardzina said. “It doesn’t really mean anything for us.”
Brazoria County Judge John Willy said FEMA officials canceled a scheduled trip to Brazoria County on Monday. FEMA officials were in the county last week doing a damage assessment.
Willy said he’s not optimistic the county’s residents will get help.
“I personally doubt they’re going to give us anything,” Willy said.
Michael Wright covers politics for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 849-8581.
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