Hurricane Harvey – Closing of Immediate Assistance Program - FAQs
Q. Why are you closing the Hurricane Harvey financial assistance program?
A. We set the application deadline of October 10 to match our goal of quickly getting financial assistance into the hands of households that were severely impacted by Hurricane Harvey and needed help taking care of emergency needs right away. Although we realize there continues to be unmet needs, the Red Cross is turning the focus of our resources to the next phase of recovery. This includes recovery support for households whose homes were destroyed or suffered major damage and need extra help. We are working alongside community and government partners now to develop these longer-term plans and will share additional information in the next few weeks.
Q. I applied for assistance before the deadline, but haven't been notified about my status. What should I do?
A. The Red Cross continues to process applications. We will get back to everyone as soon as we can. We are working quickly to ensure every application received by October 10 is processed and reviewed.
Q. I was denied and appealed the decision. Does the deadline mean that my appeal was denied? What should I do?
A. No, the Red Cross continues to process appeals. We will get back to everyone as soon as we can. We have put into place an expansive appeals team that is processing thousands of applications every day and we hope to resolve the majority of appeals within a matter of weeks.
Q. How long will it take to close all current applications?
A. We will work to resolve all current applications as quickly as possible. It’s important to know that you should not email or call us to get more information on your application, as this could lead to further delays. We will get back to everyone as soon as we can.
Q. How many households did you end up helping with financial assistance?
A. As of October 9, the Red Cross has authorized payment of $400 to more than 477,000 households severely affected by Hurricane Harvey. That’s $190 million in direct financial assistance. This number could continue to rise as we continue to process applications submitted before the deadline.
Q. How will the Red Cross help people who have unmet needs?
A. The Red Cross is committed to being a part of the long-term recovery effort in Texas. Because of the incredible generosity of our donors, we plan to commit additional significant resources to support efforts across the impacted areas on top of the more than $190 million already distributed. The next phase of Red Cross assistance will focus on direct recovery support for people whose homes were destroyed or suffered major damage and need extra help. Additionally, we are also ensuring funds are available to support community based long-term recovery efforts. We are working alongside community and government partners now to develop these plans and will share additional information in the next few weeks.
Q. Will the Red Cross be providing additional financial assistance?
A. The next phase of Red Cross assistance will focus on recovery support for people whose homes were destroyed or suffered major damage and need extra help. This includes additional financial assistance. We are working alongside community and government partners now to develop these longer-term plans and will share additional information in the next few weeks.
Q. Will the Red Cross be helping people who were denied?
A. Regardless of whether a household qualified for immediate assistance, other forms of Red Cross support will still be made available. This support includes sheltering, cleaning supplies, food, health and mental health support, spiritual care, and more.
In addition, families may still qualify for the next phase of Red Cross assistance which will focus on recovery support for people whose homes were destroyed or suffered major damage and need extra help. This may include additional financial assistance in some situations. We are working alongside community and government partners now to develop these longer-term plans and will share additional information in the next few weeks.
Q. Do you consider the program a success?
A. We are proud of the fact that we were able to authorize payments of $400 to 477,000 households who needed it. That’s $190 million in direct financial assistance as of October 9. This program enabled us to help households that were severely impacted by Harvey and who needed to take care of emergency needs right away. While the initial demand challenged our IT infrastructure and caused us to temporarily suspend service, we were ultimately able to deliver a large amount of financial assistance far faster than in previous major disasters.