$14.1 Million Going to Texas Wildfire Survivors 

Nearly one month since a Sept. 9 presidential disaster declaration made state and federal recovery funds available to eligible Texas wildfire survivors, total assistance has topped $14.1 million.

The aid includes grants to eligible homeowners and renters as well as short-term unemployment benefits for Texans whose jobs were affected by the blazes, officials from the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Friday.

Low-interest disaster loans for qualified homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) represent more than one-third of the total assistance. SBA loans are the federal government's primary source of funding for disaster-related repairs or rebuilding costs that are not covered by insurance or other sources.

State and federal assistance is available to eligible residents of all 23 Texas counties affected by wildfires that occurred on or after Aug. 30.

"The wildfires have caused great hardship for many Texans," said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes. "Survivors receiving state and federal assistance can now move ahead with their recovery."

The $14,136,196 in total disaster assistance approved for Texas as of October 7 comes from four sources:

Housing Assistance is reaching eligible individuals and families whose property was damaged or destroyed and whose losses are not covered by insurance. While the grants are not intended to restore damaged property to its predisaster condition, they will help survivors get started again.

ONA grants help qualified survivors repair or replace personal property damaged or destroyed during the wildfires. Grants also can cover transportation costs, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial costs directly linked to the disaster.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance provides temporary payments to workers or the self-employed who lost their jobs or have been unable to work due to the disaster.

Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 from the SBA to repair or replace their primary residence. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace personal property. Businesses may borrow up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury.

Texans can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov , via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov , or by telephone via FEMA's toll-free numbers: 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. Operators are available from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.