In a notable move, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced it will offer financial assistance to Houston-area residents who purchased or rented generators during the power outages caused by Hurricane Beryl. This storm, which struck near Matagorda Bay on July 8 and severely impacted Houston, left over 2.2 million residents without power.
FEMA’s announcement on Thursday reveals that affected individuals who bought or rented generators between July 5 and July 20 are eligible for reimbursement. Unlike the agency’s typical policy, which restricts generator reimbursement to those using the equipment for medical necessities, this waiver applies due to the extensive and prolonged nature of the power outages from Beryl.
“This is an unusual step for FEMA,” said FEMA spokesperson Rebecca Kelly. “Given the scale of the power outage, we’ve decided to activate this program to aid in the recovery efforts.”
The assistance is available to residents in several southeast Texas counties, including Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Orange, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker, and Wharton. Eligible applicants must present itemized receipts or rental agreements for the generators, and these expenses must not be covered by insurance or other sources.
Reimbursement will be capped at the market value of a 5,500-watt portable generator, typically priced at $3,000 or more. As of Thursday, FEMA has not set a specific reimbursement limit per individual, nor has it determined whether fuel costs for the generators will be reimbursed. Kelly noted that such costs should be included in the assistance applications.
Applications for this assistance can be submitted online at disasterassistance.gov or in person at any of the 17 FEMA disaster recovery centers currently operating in the Houston area. These centers are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. A dedicated helpline is also available at 1-800-621-3362.
Kelly emphasized the importance of submitting all relevant receipts and documentation. “Please ensure that all your recovery-related receipts are uploaded online or provided to a recovery specialist at a disaster recovery center,” she urged.
FEMA will review reimbursement requests on a case-by-case basis, with processing times estimated at 2-3 weeks for complete and verified applications. “FEMA can’t make you whole,” Kelly acknowledged. “But we can help get you on the road to recovery, which is our primary goal.”
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