FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Now Open in La Feria

by Tony Vindell/LFN

A disaster recovery center has opened in La Feria to help people and businesses impacted by the June flood.

The center is inside a dome at 1001 Pancho Maples Dr., which is the same place where the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, opened a similar center after the June 2018 flood.

Anyone impacted by the natural disaster is urged to stop by and apply for relief.

Monday, July 22, was the first day the recovery center opened and it had 75 people seeking its services.

The next day, the numbers doubled but an afternoon downpour brought the center to a quick halt.

To register for assistance, call 1-800-621-3362 or go online to DisasterAssistance.gov.

Those seeking assistance should have the following:

• Address and zip code
• Direction of the property
• Condition of damaged home or business
• Insurance information, if available
• Social Security number
• A contact telephone number
• Address to receive mail

A FEMA official said the recovery center will stay here for 60 days from the day it first opened.

Santa Rosa resident L. Rodriguez and Rosa Reyes of Harlingen were among those seeking relief from FEMA last week.

“The floor of my home was destroyed by the flood,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t have insurance so I need a lot of help.”

She said her daughter suffers from asthma and the smell from the mold inside their home is horrible.

Rodriguez said her yard received about 18 inches of rain and her home about half a foot of water.

Reyes, who lives in downtown Harlingen, said her home got several inches of rain inside.

The FEMA recovery center will open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.