AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - More than three months after Hurricane Harvey walloped Texas, many affected residents say they're still not getting help they need and President Donald Trump is getting low marks for his handling of the disaster, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation/Episcopal Health Foundation survey released Tuesday.
The poll is another indication of how families along the Texas coast continue struggling in wake of the Category 4 storm, which left Houston underwater and killed more than 80 people.
Nearly half of residents who said they had property damage or lost their job or work hours because of Harvey say they're not getting the resources needed to get back on their feet. Federal officials have approved $1.4 billion in Harvey assistance to individuals and households but the survey showed signs of confusion and frustration: More than 6 in 10 denied applicants say they received no information on how to try again.
Trump, who has consistently low approval ratings nationally, also received worse numbers than Congress or Texas leaders for their response to Harvey, with half saying the president was doing a fair or poor job.
Fears over immigration enforcement may also have a chilling effect on asking for help: Of those surveyed who were likely to be in the U.S. illegally, a majority were either very or somewhat worried about drawing attention to their status if they reached out for help.
"It's a really mixed picture for a lot of people. We do see people saying their lives are back to normal," said Liz Hamel, the director of public opinion and survey research for Kaiser. But she added, "The people who are having more trouble recovering are the ones who started out in a more tenuous position."
African-American residents and those living well below the federal poverty level were most likely to say they needed more help. Applying for disaster assistance and repairing damaged homes were the biggest concerns to those needing help, followed by finding affordable housing and getting medical care.
About 4 in 10 were also not confident about Harvey relief dollars trickling down to those who need it most.
More than 892,000 have applied for aid with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the aftermath of Harvey slamming the Texas coast on Aug. 25. About one-third of those applicants were deemed ineligible, and FEMA spokesman Robert Howard said every person who is denied aid receives a letter stating the reason and information on the appeals process.
The White House last month sent Congress a $44 billion disaster aid package that was criticized by lawmakers as being too small. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called it "wholly inadequate" while White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Texas should "step up" and provide more state money to rebuilding efforts.
The survey of 1,635 adults was conducted by phone Oct. 17-Nov. 20 using a random sample of residents that suffered large amounts of property damage from Harvey, according to FEMA reports. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.0 percentage points.
Hurricane Harvey
- FEMA insurance chief: Harvey losses could top $11 billion
- Harvey's flooding blamed in major gasoline spill in Texas
- Harvey and Irma to slow U.S. economy but rebound should follow
- U.S. House to vote on $7.9 billion Harvey relief bill
- Immigrants are sought for labor shortage in Harvey recovery
- Shelter dogs displaced by Hurricane Harvey arrive in Chattanooga [photos]
- Mnuchin: Congress must tie Harvey aid to raising debt limit
- Harvey's floodwaters mix a foul brew of sewage, chemicals
- Houston's homeless shrug off riding out Harvey on streets
- As Harvey finally fizzles, a look at what made it so nasty
- 3 tornadoes in Tennessee blamed on Harvey
- Upbeat Trump pitches in at shelter for Harvey victims
- Trump asks for $7.9 billion down payment for Harvey relief
- As floodwaters recede, Houston officials look to recovery [photos, interactives]
- 'Don't touch me. I'm dying.' Harrowing Harvey stories emerge [photos, interactives]
- Local animal shelters open doors for furry flood victims from Texas, Louisiana
- Likely tornado damages homes as Harvey hits Deep South [photos, interactives]
- Gas prices rise after Harvey reduces flow from refineries, pipeline [photos, interactives]
- Forecasters predict sunny Labor Day after Harvey's remnants blow through
- Grim reality in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey: More dead [photos, interactives]
- Harvey horror: Shivering girl, 3, clinging to her drowned mom
- Team made up of local emergency responders heads to Houston
- Texas chemical plant poised to explode amid Harvey flood
- Floodwaters drop across much of Houston; death toll at 20
- Western Louisiana in crosshairs as Harvey moves back to land [photos, interactives]
- Forecast brings hope as new shelters open, death toll rises [photos]
- Trump reassures those in Harvey's path that he will help [photos]
- Here are some ways to help victims of Hurricane Harvey
- Bracing for Harvey's return, worry renews: Is worst to come? [photos, interactives]
- Sohn: What lessons will we learn from Harvey?
- Chattanooga medical teams, volunteers aid Hurricane Harvey relief efforts
- More rain, more deaths: Harvey floods keeps Houston paralyzed
- Harvey slams region's economy, with damages in the billions
- Trump issues emergency declaration for Harvey in Louisiana
- Tennessee organization starts Harvey relief fund
- Desperate Harvey victims turn to social media to get rescued
- $3 billion disaster balance enough for immediate Harvey response
- A Houston family endured Harvey until the house was swamped
- Scientists say Harvey may be the soggy sign of future storms
- Residents in photo of flooded nursing home are 'doing fine'
- Photo of mother and baby's rescue becomes symbol of storm
- Public health dangers loom in Harvey-hit areas
- Officials act to protect downtown Houston from Harvey floods
- Harvey dilemma: Stay as water rises or risk flooded roads?
- Harvey spins deeper inland; full scope of damage is unknown
- Hurricane Harvey closes key oil, gas operations in Texas
- Houston roads start to flood as Harvey stalls
- Expert: Harvey weakened fast, but destruction just beginning
- Fearsome Hurricane Harvey slams into Texas Gulf Coast
- Menacing Harvey knocking on Texas coast as Category 4 storm
- Texas prepares as Harvey strengthens to Category 2 storm [interactive]
- Sandbags, plywood, generators: Texas coast braces for Harvey