How many affected Texans visited Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the disaster area?
Nearly 160,000 applicants visited 130 Disaster Recovery Centers over a seven-month period. The applicants received face-to-face assistance from a variety of state and federal recovery specialists. The registration period for FEMA Individual Assistance ended on Feb. 20, 2009. Applicants who wish to follow up on their claims or make adjustments in their request for assistance should call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). Speech- or hearing-impaired callers can use the TTY number at 800-462-7585. Q: What efforts did FEMA and the state of Texas make to reach non-English-speaking populations? A: FEMA and state Community Relations specialists were on the ground throughout the disaster area for several months following Hurricane Ike’s landfall. These specialists met directly with thousands of applicants in their homes, at Disaster Recovery Centers, community centers, churches, schools and many other locations. Together, the specialists spoke more than 12 languages and dialects, includ
