BEAUMONT, Texas — Since Tropical Storm Imelda flooded thousands of homes in Southeast Texas, many have been left wondering when federal assistance will begin to flow into our area.
Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick told 12News that as of Tuesday, 6,000 homes in Jefferson County were documented as having flooded from Imelda.
Right now, county officials and FEMA are working to identify at least 800 homes that flooded and weren't insured.
For a federal disaster to be declared by President Trump, an area must have 800 uninsured homes flood with at least 18 inches of water.
For families that flooded during Harvey in 2017, and you had individual assistance from FEMA or received a SBA loan, you were automatically enrolled for national flood insurance for three years.
RELATED: How to file a flood insurance claim
You need to call your agent, verify your plan and file your claim. It should cover things like walls, floors, appliances and furniture.
But there are plenty of homes that didn't flood during Harvey and did take on water after Imelda. FEMA and local officials are working to count those homes and document which ones were insured and which ones were uninsured.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state disaster as Imelda made landfall. But despite widespread flooding from Winnie to Mauriceville, the area is still well below the threshold to receive federal funding, according to State Rep. Joe Deshotel, D-District 22.
If your home has flood damage and you don't know where to begin, here are the first steps you should take.
- Be careful entering your home: If possible, wear protective shoes and clothing.
- Document the damage: Take lots of pictures and jot down notes.
- Contact Entergy: If outlets and fuse boxes got wet, don't touch them until you get the OK.
- Drying out: Remove all standing water and clean surfaces with bleach.
- Beware of mold: It can form 24 to 48 hours after a flood.
