HARDIN COUNTY, Texas — After being battered by severe storms for months, FEMA is offering Hardin County residents a much needed respite.
Federal workers are stationed in Kountze to offer assistance to those who have received storm damage since April 26.
This is one of only 3 centers in Texas to help flood victims, and FEMA told 12News that they chose Hardin County based on the sheer amount of damage it received.
FEMA has opened up the one stop shop to help make the recovery process easier and more affordable for people who live in Hardin County.
"We can't just be left out here with no way out," said Julie Burkett.
Burkett has lived in the Cooks Lakes Road for 14 years. When flooding first started, there were shuttles to get neighbors in and out of their homes, but the county is no longer offering those services.
"I know people who have never had anxiety over the road flooding because they knew they could get in and out, who now have anxiety because they know they can't," said Burkett.
The loss of the shuttles forced a lot of hear neighbors get hotels.
"If people can't get across the water, they can't go to work and then that affects their livelihood or feeding your families. And if they have been flooded then it's wonderful that they can help get, you know, some of the necessities that they might need," Burkett said.
Burkett told 12News that she is comforted to learn that she and her neighbors can get reimbursed for those expenses by visiting FEMA's new Disaster Recovery Center at the Hardin County Courthouse Annex in Kountze.
"Oh my gosh your utilities are gone. You don't have access to being able to use them because the powers out, and you need food for your family. There's a program as I mentioned, it's called Serious Needs Assistant and we can help with those things. You can use that it can be up to $750 bucks that you can use immediately to be able to get those resources," said La-Tanga Hopes.
You can also get resources to restore or rebuild your home, and if you're a student or renter FEMA will help replace all your damaged belongings. All you need is a drivers license and proof of where you're staying.
"Some people aren't actually living at their home anymore because they've been displaced. So besides that you also want to bring information that may be able to reflect, or show the damages that you have incurred," said Hopes.
Hopes says that anyone living in declared disaster areas are welcomed to come to any of the disaster recovery centers that are currently operating.
You can meet with representatives of FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration everyday from 7 a.m. to 7p.m. No appointment is required.
For more information you can go to the Disaster Recovery Center Locator online.
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