Hill Country reminders regarding Uri storm damages

Kerr County is urging all property owners who suffered any damages during the extreme winter storm last month to report it as soon as possible by visiting https://arcg.is/uOrOb or by calling the toll-free number 1-844-844-3089. As of Monday, March 15, only 415 property owners had completed the survey.

According to Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Dub Thomas, “FEMA still has to make a determination on Governor Greg Abbott’s recent request to include Kerr County along with 31 additional counties as qualifiers for Individual Assistance. FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides money and direct services to the individuals and households who need the most help with necessary expenses and who are left with serious needs in the wake of the disaster.”

Kerr County has been approved for FEMA’s “Public Assistance/Category B-Emergency Protective Measures.” “Public Assistance (PA) is FEMA’s largest grant program, providing funds to assist communities responding to and recovering from major disasters or emergencies declared as such by the president. The program provides funding for emergency assistance to save lives and protect properties along with assisting funding for permanently restoring community infrastructure affected by a federally declared incident.”

Kerr County must meet two thresholds in order for it to qualify for further PA funds through any of the additional categories. Thomas said, “First, the State of Texas must meet its threshold, then our county must meet its threshold.” Texas’ threshold is set at $38.7 million in damages from the declared winter storm disaster, while Kerr County’s threshold is $187,000 in damages for any additional PA categories to be added.

Currently, the county is completing the pSTAT survey to help it qualify for Public Assistance which will be submitted to the Texas Division of Emergency Management and FEMA for review. The iSTAT survey is the survey that must be completed in order for local residents to qualify for FEMA’s Individual Assistance funds.

Gillespie County has been approved for Federal Emergency Management Agency Individual Assistance. Individuals and business owners in Gillespie County who sustained losses due to the winter storm can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585.

One final reminder, the Better Business Bureau is warning contractors of storm chasers who offer to pay local construction companies to use a business’s name or phone number. Scams can be reported to BBB.org/Scam Tracker.