FEMA Extends Deadline

As we reported here, people made homeless by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had faced looming deadlines to return paperwork necessary to keep getting rental assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. We say "had," because FEMA has now extended the deadlines for tens of thousands of households counting on government...

By Patrick Williams

July 28, 2006

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18855504",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17105533",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105532",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105535",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

As we reported here, people made homeless by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had faced looming deadlines to return paperwork necessary to keep getting rental assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. We say "had," because FEMA has now extended the deadlines for tens of thousands of households counting on government checks to keep roofs over their heads.

FEMA announced today that some 19,000 Texas households with a July 31 deadline to recertify for assistance, as well as thousands of others facing a similar deadline at the end of August, now have until October 31 to file the necessary documents--rent receipts, a housing plan and documentation of efforts to find work.

"We recognize that the time is short, and we understand the confusion that evacuees have with the various government programs," Robert "Bob" Bennett, chief of staff and special assistant to E.C. "Butch" Smith, director of the Texas Transitional Recovery Office in Austin, stated in a FEMA press release. "We are happy to report that FEMA's leadership has agreed to take this step as a compassionate way to help disaster victims recover their footing."

Of course, people who lost everything to the storms probably aren't busy reading blogs or the back pages of newspapers, so if you happen to know any desperate evacuees, you might do them a favor and pass this news on. --Patrick Williams

KEEP THE OBSERVER FREE... Since we started the Dallas Observer, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Patrick Williams is editor-in-chief of the Dallas Observer. Before joining the staff in July 1997, Patrick worked for the Southern Illinoisan, Amarillo Globe News and San Antonio Express-News. As editor-in-chief, he oversees the newsroom and guides the coverage of both the Dallas Observer’s printed publication and online website.

Contact: Patrick Williams