North Texas flooding victims came out Saturday to seek help from federal disaster funds.
"The winds were so heavy there were two- or three-foot waves slamming against the house," said Grapevine resident Mike Almond. "That part wasn't fun."
All of their belongings on the first floor of their home were completely destroyed by Tropical Storm Bill. Walls had to be ripped out, and the house will eventually need some costly foundation work.
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As a result, the Almonds were just one North Texas family seeking help from a FEMA mobile Disaster Recovery Center in Coppell.
"We came from all over the country to help you Texans, so come get some," FEMA official Rett Campbell said. So far this year, FEMA has approved $38.7 million for flood victims statewide, with $1.1 million in Dallas County – more than any other disaster-declared county in North Texas.
Despite the big-money numbers, turnout for FEMA help has been low in the region. As a result, FEMA has extended the application deadline for assistance to August 27, 2015.
"People have all different levels of stuff going on and they're not really thinking of doing their paperwork, so let's give them a little more time," FEMA manager Campbell said. "We're not here to defeat anybody; we're here to help you get back up on yoru own two feet."
As for the Almond family, FEMA will help pay for a place for them to stay while their home's foundation is repaired. The Almonds were also approved for a loan to replace personal belongings, which they know is still far off.
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Residents in Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Henderson, Johnson, Navarro, Van Zandt, Wise, and, most recently, Erath Counties are eligable for applying for disaster aid.
Click HERE for a complete list of Disaster Recovery Centers across the Metroplex.
For more information, you can call FEMA and register for your application at 1-800-621-3362 or visit disasterassistance.gov.
