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Residents who fled to hotels to escape Harvey's rising waters have until Oct. 10 to check out. At the request of the state, two weeks have been added to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Twenty-four thousand people are still displaced in hotels statewide, down from 40,000 in the immediate aftermath, according to a press release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. More than 12,000 of those applicants are from Harris County, officials confirmed. Another 5,000 were from Fort Bend, Galveston, Brazoria, Montgomery and Liberty counties. Without the extension, they would all be forced out next week.
Under the program, FEMA pays directly for the room and any applicable taxes. Applicants are responsible for all other incidental costs.
To further help ease the financial burden of residing in hotels or motels Gov. Greg Abbott has extended the state's suspension of hotel and motel taxes through Oct. 23.
