The good news is, anyone in Port Arthur who needs assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency can get it.

The bad news is, they will need a computer or a phone and Internet access.

Port Arthur is still a city where over a thousand homes are still without power and where countless more do not have Internet access, nevertheless it is not yet clear when the city could get its own FEMA field office.

Leo Skinner, a media relations specialist with FEMA, said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has field offices in Houston, and he expects more offices to open—but he can’t say when.

“Well, you know, that hasn’t been determined yet but traditionally, what we do is once the disaster has been declared, we work with the state to decide where we open disaster centers,” he said.

He expects some decisions to be made in the next three or four days.

In the meantime, Skinner said FEMA has an app and people can sign up on their smart phones or they can call 1-800-621-3362, though the number, too, isn’t the easiest thing to navigate.

“That is quite busy as it’s the same phone line for everyone in the country,” he said. “People just have to stick with it and maybe call in the non-busy hours in the early evening or early in the morning.”

The problem is, Skinner said it’s best to register with FEMA as soon as possible.

“If you have damage, you should register as soon as possible,” he said. “We always want people to get into the system as quickly as possible. That way they know what options are available to them in terms of grants or loans.”

The grants or loans can cover everything from business expenses to rent. In addition, FEMA has a temporary housing program for people whose properties are no longer habitable.

“You may be able to qualify for the housing program, which is putting people in hotels,” Skinner explained. “The transitional assistance program, or TSA, may give approval to move into a hotel at FEMA’s expense.”

Businesses, too, may qualify for assistance.

“The Small Business Administration can provide loans to small businesses,” Skinner said. “Home owners and renters can also borrow money from the SBA. They loan money to businesses and renters.”

Skinner said someone who owns a large home might also want to take out a low-interest loan—even if they get money from FEMA.

“If you live in a $100,000 house that was totally destroyed, you may get some FEMA money but it’s not going to pay to get to house to where it was before and in order to do that, most people are going to need a loan to do that and a low-interest SBA loan can help you do that.”

Basically, Skinner’s advice is: If you think you might have suffered damages, sign up.

“We always tell people if you have damage and can’t get back into your home, apply to FEMA,” he said. “We’re all in this together.”

To find out more or to register for assistance, visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/.

Once signed up, the automated system will alert victims of what aid might be available to them.