FEMA Reimburses Austin $5.4 Million For Housing Katrina Evacuees 

Release Date: October 9, 2005
Release Number: 1606-024

» More Information on Texas Hurricane Rita

AUSTIN , Texas -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded a $5.4 million Public Assistance grant to the State of Texas to reimburse the City of Austin for providing sheltering to Hurricane Katrina evacuees from the Gulf Coast.

The grant pays 100 percent of costs associated with providing sheltering operations beginning Sept. 2 and continuing for evacuees relocated out of the damaged areas of Louisiana . This includes feeding, medical service and security.

"We applaud the City of Austin and the State of Texas for doing a remarkable job in welcoming and caring for Gulf Coast evacuees who so desperately needed help," said Tom Davies, FEMA's federal coordinating officer for disaster recovery operations in Texas . "We recognize the need and importance of moving these funds as soon as possible."

The federal funds are made available under FEMA's Public Assistance Program. State and local governments and designated agencies that provide services to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina are eligible for 100 percent reimbursement for costs associated with:

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, work 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: Tuesday, 11-Oct-2005 09:57:14