One Month Remains for Hurricane Beryl Survivors to Apply for FEMA Assistance in Texas 

Oct 16, 2024 | Business Support

AUSTIN — Texans who sustained losses from Hurricane Beryl have one month remaining to apply for federal assistance. The deadline is October 10, 2024.

Since the disaster declaration in July, FEMA has helped nearly 673,700 Texas households with $704.7 million in financial assistance. FEMA specialists have been working in 22 counties helping people apply for assistance.

FEMA crews have visited 174,203 homes and 9,285 public locations. More than 45,000 residents have visited the 42 Disaster Recovery Centers located within the state. More than 26,100 families have stayed in hotels temporarily at the expense of the State and FEMA because they could not return to their homes.

FEMA is partnering with Small Business Administration (SBA) to let the business community know that the SBA is offering low-interest disaster loans for losses not covered by insurance or funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for both personal and business losses. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $247.8 million in low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, private nonprofit organizations, and businesses affected by Beryl.

SBA Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center 

SBA has also established a Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center to provide personalized assistance to business owners. SBA customer service representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each person complete their electronic loan application. Applicants may call (916) 735-1160 for assistance Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Or they can email the SBA at FOCWAssistance@sba.gov. The deadline to apply for property damage is Nov. 4, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is June 3, 2025.

Homeowners and renters in Austin, Bowie, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Walker, Waller and Wharton counties with uninsured losses from Hurricane Beryl may be eligible for FEMA assistance.

Texans have several options for how to apply for FEMA assistance. Homeowners and renters can:

  • Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • Download the FEMA App for mobile devices.
  • Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
  • Visit a Disaster Recovery Center. To find the center location nearest you go to fema.gov/drc. Disaster Recovery Centers operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Saturday, closed Sunday.

To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, private nonprofit organizations and businesses of any size. Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster or by calling 800-659-2955. SBA representatives are available to provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants at the Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the affected area. Business Recovery Centers are operating at the University of Houston Downtown Marilyn Davies College of Business, Trini Mendenhall Community Center in Houston and East Montgomery County Improvement District in Montgomery County.

For more information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4798. Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x.com/FEMARegion6 and on Facebook at @femaregion6.

Houston, TX – April 25, 2026 — The Greater Houston Black Chamber (GHBC) successfully hosted its 2nd Annual Wealth Forum: Code to Capital at Rice University’s Anderson-Clarke Center, convening entrepreneurs, professionals, students, financial institutions, and industry leaders for a one-day, high-impact experience focused on building and sustaining wealth.

Held during Financial Literacy Month, the Wealth Forum continues to serve as a signature platform advancing GHBC’s mission to drive economic empowerment by equipping individuals and businesses with the tools, strategies, and access needed to achieve long-term financial success.

The forum’s mainstage programming opened with the Code to Capital panel, featuring Kim Roxie (LAMIK Beauty), Kimberly Evans (BeckEvans), and Jill Johnson (Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership), moderated by Amanda Sapp. The discussion provided candid insights into capital readiness, common barriers to funding, and actionable strategies to strengthen business positioning for access to capital.

The mainstage continued with a featured fireside chat, “Before Capital: The Financial Foundation Every Entrepreneur Needs,” led by Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. The conversation emphasized the importance of financial discipline, debt management, and foundational readiness as critical components of sustainable business growth.

A real-time program adjustment created space for deeper engagement, resulting in what many attendees identified as a defining and impactful moment of the event.

The forum also featured a dedicated College Track, highlighting conversations with emerging and established voices in entrepreneurship and culture. Tyla-Simone Crayton, founder of Sienna Wings, shared her journey building a nationally recognized brand, while Keyheira Keys of DreamCon provided insight into the growth and expansion of one of the country’s fastest-growing cultural conventions. These sessions offered students practical, real-world perspectives on ownership, brand building, and scaling within today’s economy.

In addition to mainstage programming, attendees participated in a series of interactive workshops covering financial management, business growth strategies, wealth building, access to capital, and estate planning. The Lender Matchmaker Lounge facilitated direct connections between attendees and financial institutions, while the Wealth Coach Corner provided one-on-one guidance from financial experts.

A standout component of the forum was the AI Implementation Lab, which sold out ahead of the event and delivered hands-on training focused on integrating artificial intelligence into business operations. Participants developed customized implementation plans and gained practical tools to improve efficiency, increase revenue potential, and scale their businesses.

The event concluded with The Wealth Exchange, an exclusive networking reception sponsored by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), providing attendees with an opportunity to continue building relationships and exploring collaborative opportunities.

“The Wealth Forum is designed to move beyond conversation and into action,” said Dr. Asheli S. Atkins, President & CEO of GHBC. “Our goal is to create intentional spaces where entrepreneurs and professionals gain not only knowledge, but clear pathways to capital, growth, and long-term wealth.”

The continued success of the Wealth Forum underscores GHBC’s commitment to supporting Houston’s business community by fostering access, education, and opportunity.

For more information about the GHBC Wealth Forum, visit www.ghbcc.com/wealth-forum.

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<a href="https://ghbcc.com/author/admin-blkchamber/" target="_self">GHBC</a>

GHBC

Greater Houston Black Chamber

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