Four FEMA Offices Ready to Assist RGV Residents

by Tony Vindell/LFN

The Federal Emergency Management Agency now has four Disaster Recovery Centers to assist people impacted by the June flooding.

The latest DRC opened in La Feria FEMA Safety Room at 10010 Pancho Maples Dr.

All centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA representatives have been visiting areas in the Rio Grande Valley hardest hit by last month’s downpour that caused widespread flooding in La Feria, Weslaco, Mercedes, Pharr, McAllen, Donna and Mission.

Damages to homes and business are in the millions of dollars and those affected can apply for federal assistance in the forms of loans and grants for repairing damaged buildings and personal property.

FEMA’s DRC in Weslaco is at the city’s Economic Development Center on South Kansas Avenue. In Mission it’s at the city’s Social Event Center on South Mayberry Road and in McAllen it’s at the Old Church Winery on North Main Street.

Jaime Sandoval, manager with the city of La Feria, said FEMA representatives are assessing the situation before coming up with a number for the damages caused by the flooding.

“We estimate at least 100 homes and businesses were damaged,” he said. “But that is one assessment. It could be 200 homes or more.”