FEMA Awards Baylor $4.2 Million Flood Protection Grant
Release Date: April 6, 2005
Release Number: R6-05-057
DENTON, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today it has obligated over $4.2 million to the State of Texas to flood proof 175 points of entry at the Baylor College of Medicine campus located at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. The installation of flood barriers, shields, floodgates and alteration of entrance elevations will prevent future floodwaters from entering campus buildings.
Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response said, "We know that mitigation efforts work. Flood protection measures save money and keep organizations running. The work at Baylor will help to prevent losses like those caused by Tropical Storm Allison."
FEMA provides 75 percent of eligible project costs and the remaining 25 percent comes from local resources. Where feasible, recovery efforts incorporate mitigation measures to help protect against possible future flooding.
The federal funds are made available under the FEMA Public Assistance Program. The State of Texas administers the program under which eligible disaster-related costs are reimbursed to government units and certain non-profit organizations providing essential government-like services in the areas of emergency protective measures, debris removal and restoration of public facilities.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Thursday, 07-Apr-2005 08:29:52