RGVAlex

It's Hurricane Preparedness Week! RGVAlex fans - Please click on the link below to "LIKE" the RGVDisasterCenter - a regional communications tool for RGV-wide disaster information & resources.

RGVDisasterCenter RGVDisasterCenter is a page created by Rio Grande Valley public information officers to keep Rio Grande Valley residents updated on storm updates, preparations, response and recovery.

Please "LIKE" the RGVDisasterCenter page to remain up-to-date and informed in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season.

Hidalgo County presented today on County & Regional Communications and Use of Social Media in Disasters, citing RGVAlex as a good example of use of social media in disasters. Lesson learned in 2010 - don't make pages for specific events. Alex ended, yet important news continued! Like RGVDisasterCenter!

Social Media in Disaster and War on USTREAM: http://smdw.eventbrite.com. Social Media in Disaster and War @ USTREAM: http://smdw.eventbrite.com.

RGVAlex fans, stay up to date on relevant and important information in the event of public health or safety emergencies. Please move over and "Like" the Rio Grande Valley's Joint Information Center RGVDisasterCenter !

Follow Hidalgo County for the latest preparedness info!

Today (Oct. 4) is the FEMA registration deadline for homeowners, renters and business owners who have damages from Hurricane Alex and live in Cameron County, Hidalgo County or Starr County. The toll-free phone number to register is 1-800-621-3362.

FEMA Best Practices Mention: Hidalgo County 's Emergency Levee Repair in Penitas Kept Citizens Safe from the Raging Rio Grande River in July 2010.

FEMA: Mitigation Best Practices Portfolio Federal and local agencies worked against the clock to keep the citizens of Hidalgo County safe from the raging Rio Grande River in July 2010. The residents of the small town of Peñitas had no idea they were so close to danger. When Tony Pena, Hidalgo County emergency manager, got the call that ther...

FEMA: Extra Funds Available To Some Flood Insurance Policyholders LAREDO, Texas -- Flood insurance policyholders whose structures were damaged by Hurricane Alex and the subsequent flooding may be eligible for up to $30,000 in coverage in addition to their claims for damages. Property owners can use the extra money to make their homes or businesses safe from future...

Hey RGVAlex fans, all new information about is posted up on RGVDisasterCenter, the one-stop-shop for all disaster news in the . Migrate on over please! Can't find it? It's listed under RGVAlex's favorite pages. Our direct url is www.facebook.com/RGVDisasterCenter

Alamo
and Progreso residents affected by Hurricane Alex and Rio Grande
Flooding can get help from a mobile FEMA Disaster Recovery Center.
The mobile DRC in Alamo will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday,Sept. 16-18, and will be located:

Hidalgo County Pct. 2 Multipurpose Center1429 S. Tower RoadAlamo, TX 78516

The mobile DRC in Progreso will be open from noon to 6 p.m., Friday
and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17-18, and will be located:

Progreso Family Community Center510 N. FM 1015Progreso, TX 78579

FEMA: Alamo And Progreso To Host FEMA/State Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers LAREDO, Texas –- The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announce the opening of mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). The mobile DRCs will open in Alamo on Thursday, Sept. 16, and in Progreso on Friday, Sept. 17, for those affected by ...

FROM CAMERON COUNTY: FEMA's Mobile Disaster Recovery Center will be located at the Cameron County Harlingen Annex (3302 Wilson Road, Harlingen) for the next four days, starting today.

Operational hours: Wed (8th) thru Fri (10th) from 10 AM to 6 PM; Sat (11th) from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Hazard mitigation specialists with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) will be available at McCoy's Home Center in
Mission beginning Sept. 7.
The teams will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, Sept. 11.
Their aim is to answer questions residents
may have about protecting their homes from future disaster damage as
well as building or rebuilding their homes safer and stronger.

Survivors of Hurricane Alex just have one month left to register for state and federal disaster assistance.
Monday, Oct. 4, is the last day to begin the
assistance process by contacting the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA). It is also the deadline to return any loan applications
to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

FEMA: One Month Left To Register For Hurricane Alex Survivors LAREDO, Texas – Survivors of Hurricane Alex just have one month left to register for state and federal disaster assistance.

FROM CAMERON COUNTY: On Saturday, FEMA's mobile Disaster Recovery Center will open in Port Isabel (505 HWY 100; Benny Ochoa Building) between 10 am & 4 pm. Sunday, it will open between 1 pm & 5 pm; Monday it will be closed for Labor Day, and Tuesday, it will open between 10 am & 6 pm.

FEMA reports that in Hidalgo County alone, applicants have received more than $1.7 million in housing assistance grants and more than $325,000 in other-than housing federal financial assistance as of Aug. 31. Apply today (fema.gov) or 1-800-621-FEMA.

Long-term Recovery Efforts are Making Progress to Help Flood Survivors.

Hidalgo County, TX - Official Website Edinburg – Long-term disaster recovery efforts continue in Hidalgo County with various governmental and non-profit entities providing flood survivors with basic immediate needs, housing repair grants, case management, and other types of federal assistance. Registering with FEMA remains the most impo...

FROM CAMERON COUNTY: FEMA to open its Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) today in Brownsville.

Scheduled to open at the Cameron County Cameron Park Centro Cultural Center(2100 Gregory Ave), the Mobile DRC will be open between 10 am to 6 pm from Tuesday, August 31 to Friday, September 3.

It will then move to Port Isabel for four days and finally wrap up in Harlingen for four more days.

Four tips to play it smart with your FEMA disaster assistance payment:

FEMA: Follow Four Smart Steps With Your Disaster Assistance Payment LAREDO, Texas -- Disaster assistance payments are bringing some vital financial help to many Texans rebuilding their lives after Hurricane Alex and the subsequent flooding. But those Individual Assistance monies come with some advice from state and federal officials: Play it smart with the funds.

Residents who have been affected by Hurricane Alex can register online for federal assistance:

English-speaking: www.disasterassistance.gov or www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm

Spanish-speaking: www.disasterassistance.gov/daip_es.portal or www.fema.gov/esp/asistencia/index.shtm

DisasterAssistance.gov DisasterAssistance is a partnership of Federal agencies with a shared vision - to provide self-guided access for persons affected by a disaster to find and apply for government administered forms of assistance.

Rebuilding after the flood? Make sure you get the proper permits ...

FEMA: Texans Urged To Get Permits Before Rebuilding LAREDO, Texas -- Before rebuilding, homeowners should make sure their local permits are in order. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) urge homeowners to get specific information from their local municipalities about any building permit...

If Hurricane Alex damaged your property and you need to buy repair items, remember to:
1) Save receipts of every purchase you made to make your house safe, sanitary and secure. When inspectors check the damage, receipts will help determine losses. 2) Take photographs of damaged property before you replace it. Be
sure to show these to the inspectors. It could speed up a response to your disaster aid application.

Do you want to help? Please donate food and toiletries via the Rio Relief Drive. Hidalgo County has partnered with the Salvation Army to help flood victims. Taking donations at nine county locations (and adding more) until at least Aug. 31.

Hidalgo County, TX - Official Website - Rio Relief Drive Rio Relief Drive

FROM CAMERON COUNTY: FEMA Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will return to Cameron County to help residents affected by Hurricane Alex, starting on August 31, 2010--first in Brownsville then Port Isabel and finally Harlingen:

Brownsville-Tuesday, August 31 thru Friday, September 3
Port Isabel-Saturday, September 4 thru Tuesday, September 7
Harlingen-Wednesday, September 8 thru Saturday, September 11

Disaster Unemployment help is available for people who have been unable to work or lost their jobs due to Hurricane Alex and the flooding that followed. Apply by Sept. 7 by logging onto http://ui.texasworkforce.org or by calling a TWC Tele-Center Monday thru Friday, 8a - 5p CST at 1-800-939-6631.

Texas Workforce Commission - Unemployment Benefits Services Unemployment Benefits Services allows individuals to submit new applications for Unemployment Benefits, submit payment requests, get claim and payment information, and respond to work search log requests. Individuals with an existing claim can also update their address or phone number. Texas Workfor...

As of today, Valley Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) have new hours of operations:

Fixed & Mobile DRCs: Mondays--Fridays (10 AM through 6 PM)
Fixed & Mobile DRCs: Saturdays (10 AM through 4PM)
Fixed DRCs ONLY: Sundays (Closed)
Mobile DRCs ONLY: Sundays (1 PM through 5 PM)

FEMA Mobile Disaster Recovery Center to open in Harlingen tomorrow (Cameron County Harlingen Annex; 3302 Wilson Road) from 12 to 7 PM. On Sun.(Aug. 22), it will open from 1 to 7 PM; On Mon. and Tue., it will open from 9 AM to 7 PM.

Residents can get information about state and federal assistance, get help completing low-interest disaster loan applications and learn about cost-effective mitigation measures.

Today at 7 PM, FEMA closes the Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (MDRC) in Port Isabel. Cameron County residents that were affected by Hurricane Alex can visit the location (505 HWY 100: Cameron County Port Isabel Annex) to either register for assistance or check the status of their application case.

Today at noon, FEMA opens its Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (MDRC) in Port Isabel to assist Cameron County residents that were affected by Hurricane Alex.

The MDRC, which will be located at the Port Isabel Annex (Benny Ochoa Building), located at 505 HWY 100 in Port Isabel, will remain there for the next four days. It will remain open today until 7 PM, and will be open Wed. through Fri. between 9 AM and 7 PM.