Homeowners across Galveston County who are still dealing with damage from the 2024 storms — including Hurricane Beryl — may qualify for state help to rebuild, and they don't have to wait for a scheduled event to find out. The Texas General Land Office is offering assistance that includes home rebuilding help, reimbursement for certain eligible repairs, and other disaster recovery aid for homeowners whose properties were damaged.
According to KPRC Click2Houston, the City of Galveston is sharing information about the recovery program so residents with eligible 2024 disaster damage can learn whether they qualify. The station, reported by writer Ninfa Saavedra, notes that a Texas General Land Office outreach event is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, at the Moore Memorial Public Library in Texas City, running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Homeowners don't need to attend in person to get started, though — they can apply now at recovery.texas.gov/apply or call 1-844-893-8937 for help.
What the Money Actually Covers
The funding at stake is part of a much larger pot. The Texas General Land Office allocated $287.2 million in federal disaster recovery housing funds across 27 counties hit by the 2024 storms, split between $244.1 million for home repairs and reconstruction and $43.1 million for homeowner reimbursements, according to Community Impact. Under the state's Homeowner Reimbursement Program, eligible homeowners can recover out-of-pocket repair costs ranging from $3,000 to $75,000 for stick-built primary residences, and $3,000 to $50,000 for manufactured housing units, per the Texas General Land Office.
That $287.2 million sits within a broader state recovery strategy that also includes $88.1 million for affordable rental projects and $97.03 million for local infrastructure projects that municipalities can tap for up to $5 million each. The agency's overall disaster recovery and mitigation portfolio now exceeds $14.3 billion across eight major disaster events statewide.
Why Galveston Qualifies but Houston Doesn't
Not every Houston-area homeowner falls under this program. Galveston County residents are eligible for GLO-administered 2024 disaster aid, but neighboring Harris County and the City of Houston are excluded because HUD issued those jurisdictions their own direct grants — $67.33 million to Harris County and $314.65 million to Houston — which those governments administer independently of the state agency. Houston City Council approved $314 million in direct federal aid for its own storm recovery last year, and the city later finalized how those dollars would be distributed with its own grant guidelines.
The damage triggering all of this aid stems from two federal disaster declarations covering 2024: DR-4781, for severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and floods, and DR-4798, for Hurricane Beryl. Beryl made landfall near Matagorda as a Category 1 storm in July 2024, after earlier becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic. It caused more than $6 billion in direct physical damage, knocked out power to 2.7 million utility customers, and contributed to total U.S. economic losses estimated between $28 billion and $32 billion, according to Earth.Org.
Strict Rules and a Ticking Clock
Qualifying isn't automatic. Applicants must show the damaged home was their primary residence at the time of the 2024 storm, prove they're current on property taxes and mortgage payments, pass federal immigration status verification through the SAVE system, and choose between repair assistance or reimbursement — households cannot receive both, per the Texas General Land Office. Families displaced during rebuilding work can also receive up to $7,000 in temporary relocation assistance while construction is underway on their primary dwelling.
Once work begins, it has to hold up to scrutiny: reconstruction and repairs funded through the program must pass both GLO final inspections and Texas Real Estate Commission inspections, and must comply with the 2012 International Residential Code along with local municipal standards. Funding is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, which is part of why in-person outreach sessions like the one planned for Texas City matter for homeowners still working through paperwork.
For Galveston County residents more than two years removed from the storms that damaged their homes, the message from state officials is straightforward: the money exists, the rules are strict, and waiting too long could mean missing out. Homeowners can start the process now at recovery.texas.gov/apply, by phone, or in person when the outreach event arrives later this month.
