FEMA Extends Deadline to Ask For Hurricane Help in Texas

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is giving Texas victims of Hurricane Ike an extra 29 days to ask for financial help.

FEMA extended the application deadline for homeowners, renters and business owners to Jan. 10.

FEMA officials said the aid can include grants for temporary housing, vital home repairs, or other storm-related expenses that aren’t covered by insurance. They said they acted in response to a request from state officials.

Gov. Rick Perry has previously requested about $300 million from FEMA for temporary housing for Ike victims. Perry says Ike destroyed about 100,000 homes and left half a million people in Southeast Texas homeless.

According to the governor’s office, more than 700,000 households from the affected area have registered, and more than 150 residents have registered each day since Dec. 1.