16 Additional Counties Eligible For Federal Infrastructure Aid
Release Date: July 18, 2007
Release Number: 1709-014
» More Information on Texas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
WACO, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that 16 additional Texas counties affected by flooding beginning June 16th and continuing are now eligible for Public Assistance (PA) funds to help repair and restore damaged infrastructure. The newly eligible counties are: Archer, Baylor, Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Erath, Hamilton, Jones, Llano, Mason, Mills, Montague, San Saba, Wichita and Wise. These 16 counties join 10 other Texas counties already eligible for PA funds.
Public Assistance funds are available to eligible applicants for debris removal and disposal, emergency services related to the disaster, and the repair or replacement of damaged public facilities such as roads, buildings and utilities. Eligible applicants for PA funds include state, county and local governments and some private non-profits such as educational and medical facilities. FEMA will provide 75 percent of the cost of eligible projects.
Examples of projects funded by the Public Assistance program include:
- Public roads and bridges not on the Federal Aid System;
- Public water control facilities, including dams and drainage channels;
- Public utilities such as water treatment, sewage treatment and electrical; public buildings such as police and fire stations, libraries and public office buildings, including their vehicles and contents; and
- Public parks and recreation facilities, including playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses, ball fields and boat ramps.
"Once a county is declared eligible, then federal assistance becomes available for publicly-owned property that was damaged by the flood," said Joan Haun, state coordinating officer for the Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM). "It is very important that local governments apply in all cases of eligible need."
"Repairing damaged infrastructure is just as critical to the recovery process as repairing a home," said Kenneth Clark, federal coordinating officer. "The Public Assistance program is another way the federal government is helping communities recover swiftly and fully."
State and FEMA officials will hold applicant briefings in affected areas. These briefings will introduce potential aid recipients to the Public Assistance process and address initial questions. Following these briefings, each potential applicant will submit a Request for Public Assistance. FEMA will assign a Public Assistance Coordinator to each applicant to ensure each applicant's needs are met throughout the process.
In addition to the PA program, entities throughout Texas are eligible for funds to reduce future disaster losses under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). This program helps state or local governments avoid or lessen the impact of natural hazards through safer building practices and the improvement of existing structures and supporting infrastructure. HMGP contributes to the development of a long-term comprehensive mitigation program by funding measures designed to achieve the goals of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan.
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: Wednesday, 18-Jul-2007 16:42:19