Six Counties to Receive Additional Assistance for Infrastructure 

Release Date: August 9, 2008
Release Number: 1780-009

» More Information on Texas Hurricane Dolly

McALLEN, Texas -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today it is expanding disaster assistance to six Texas counties to help pay for repair, restoration, reconstruction or replacement of public facilities, roads and bridges, water facilities and other infrastructure damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Dolly.

After further review of damages and assessments, Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Starr and  Willacy counties are now eligible for all categories of  FEMA's Public Assistance.

Projects fall into the following categories:

Under the cost-share program, FEMA Public Assistance funds 75 percent of the cost for eligible work by state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations that provide public services. The state manages the grants for all projects. The remaining 25 percent non-federal share comes from state and local sources.

Under President Bush's major disaster declaration for Texas on Thursday, July 24, FEMA's Public Assistance Program quickly provided direct federal assistance for emergency protective measures taken by the state and local jurisdictions before, during and after Hurricane Dolly swept through parts of Texas.

Counties included: Aransas, Bexar, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Willacy and Victoria counties.

Individual Assistance was later designated for Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties after a review of damage assessments, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM). That designation also included federal assistance to state agencies, local jurisdictions and eligible nonprofit organizations for debris removal for the 15 counties initially declared.

All counties within the state of Texas are eligible to apply for assistance under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Program. Further information is available through the Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM).

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Monday, 11-Aug-2008 08:55:54