Disaster Assistance Expanded For Nine Texas Counties 

Release Date: October 3, 2005
Release Number: 1606-016

» More Information on Texas Hurricane Rita

AUSTIN, Texas - Federal disaster assistance for Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange and Tyler counties has been expanded to include assistance for local governments affected by Hurricane Rita for the repair, replacement or restoration of public infrastructure that sustained disaster-related damages.

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the additional assistance following a review of damage data gathered by federal, state and local disaster recovery officials. Under the original declaration issued by President Bush, the counties were designated for aid to individuals, families and business owners and aid to local governments to reimburse them for debris removal and emergency services.

"Our continuing commitment is not only to help meet the recovery needs of devastated families and businesses," said Tom Davies, FEMA's federal coordinating officer for Rita recovery operations in Texas, "but to ensure that the vital community services they also depend on are restored as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Under the expanded assistance, affected local governments and certain private non-profit organizations in these counties are eligible to apply for federal funds to pay 75 percent of the approved cost for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities.

Applicant briefings will be held by staff from the Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management to help local officials understand the Public Assistance process. Applicants have 30 days from the date their area is designated eligible to submit applications to the state. Once the state receives the request form, a FEMA public assistance coordinator and a state public assistance specialist are assigned to work with the applicant throughout the recovery period.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 04-Oct-2005 06:28:25