More than 3,000 complete damage surveys in the Rio Grande Valley after historic floods

As of April 4, more than 3,000 residents in the four Rio Grande Valley counties have completed the damage survey needed to qualify for FEMA reimbursement after last week's deadly and catastrophic rain.

Amber Arriaga Salinas, director of development at La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) said the number of damage reports submitted through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) is low compared to the actual impact of the flooding.

“I believe we were still low on the numbers,” Salinas said. “LUPE is trying to go to the affected areas that we know of to let people know that this is an important tool.”

Salinas said survey completion rates are especially low in Starr and Willacy counties.

The iSTAT is an online damage assessment tool that helps determine need and justify state and federal assistance to both residents and businesses that have been affected by natural disasters.

“We know that there's a bit of apprehension for folks to fill it out,” Salinas said. “But we are going out and telling people that it's really important for them to complete it. Emergency management will not know what the needs are if residents aren't sharing the needs. We want to share the message that it's safe and it's necessary.”

Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda, whose city and surrounding areas were particularly hard hit, said last week that her city must reach $1.5 million in reported property damage to qualify for FEMA reimbursement. Sepulveda emphasized that meeting the threshold depends on residents submitting damage reports.

Even if a federal disaster declaration is issued, many Rio Grande Valley residents may not qualify for FEMA aid due to a range of eligibility restrictions.

“There are flood zone restrictions that would just disqualify them from the get-go,” Salinas said. “FEMA applies the deferred maintenance rule to a lot of our low-income families.”

The deferred maintenance rule allows FEMA to deny aid if it determines that property damage was caused by a preexisting condition — for example, a roof or structure that had not been properly repaired before the storm.

Salinas said LUPE often sees families denied help despite severe losses, and is hoping to help by holding a Spanish language workshop on completing the iSTAT on Friday, April 4 at 6 p.m. at their San Juan offices.

While federal assistance through FEMA may still be weeks away–or may not come at all–Salinas said LUPE is stepping in to meet immediate needs in the absence of a formal federal disaster declaration. The organization’s Dando La Mano fund is currently providing immediate financial relief to Rio Grande Valley residents affected by recent flooding.

Originally launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fund now offers $200 gift cards to individuals facing urgent needs such as food loss, home damage or transportation issues. The grants are intended as a quick form of assistance for families dealing with the fallout of the severe storms.

“We saw an immediate need, and that is our goal with reopening this fund — to help people a little bit during this devastating time,” Salinas said.

The online application, available in English and Spanish, takes only a few minutes to complete and is open to both LUPE members and nonmembers. Priority is given to those in “real dire need,” Salinas said. Most applicants can receive a gift card within one to two days after approval.

• Rio Grande Valley residents can fill out the iSTAT damage survey here.
• La Unión del Pueblo Entero is holding a Spanish language workshop on completing the iSTAT on Friday, April 4 at 6:0 PM at their San Juan offices.
• Dando La Mano fund is offering $200 emergency gift cards here.
• Anyone can donate to Dando La Mano to help those in need here.