AUSTIN, Texas – More than one million hours of volunteer labor, millions in cash donations and countless charitable efforts form the backbone of recovery from Hurricane Harvey more than a month after the Category 4 storm struck Texas.To meet the immediate needs of survivors, volunteers from all over the country continue to muck and gut homes, provide emotional and spiritual care, repair and rebuild homes, and perform other much-needed disaster work. Hundreds of voluntary organizations, in coordination with the Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD), have organized those efforts.The whole-community...

AUSTIN, Texas – A State of Texas/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will open Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Jefferson County in the city of Hamshire.Disaster recovery centers offer in-person support to individuals and businesses in counties included in the Texas federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent floods.Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the State and other agencies will be at the center to talk about assistance and to help anyone who needs guidance in filing an application. The new...

AUSTIN, Texas – Three State of Texas/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers will open Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017: one in Chambers County in the city of Anahuac, one in San Jacinto County in the city of Coldspring and another in Aransas County in the city of Rockport.Disaster recovery centers offer in-person support to individuals and businesses in counties included in the Texas federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent floods.Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the State and other agencies will...

AUSTIN, Texas – Two State of Texas/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers will open Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Dayton (Liberty County) and Friendswood (Galveston County).Disaster recovery centers offer in-person support to individuals and businesses in counties included in the Texas federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent floods.Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the State and other agencies will be at the centers to talk about assistance and to help anyone who needs guidance in filing an application. The new...

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas residents who experienced damage caused by Hurricane Harvey and subsequent flooding can get free advice on rebuilding stronger, more disaster-resistant structures from hazard mitigation specialists at an Ace Hardware store in Houston.These experts will be in the store for six days starting Monday, Oct. 2, offering home-improvement suggestions and techniques to build disaster-resistant homes. Free reference booklets with information to protect a home from flood damage will be available.Residents may talk to hazard mitigation specialists at:Gateway Ace Hardware6860 Telephone Rd.Houston, TX 77061Monday, Oct. 2, through Saturday, Oct....