Ike Update: Disaster Recovery Continues With Federal, State Help
Release Date: January 24, 2009
Release Number: 1791-385
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Ike
AUSTIN, Texas Federal and state efforts are continuing to help Texans move forward in their recovery from Hurricane Ike. More than $1.4 billion has so far been approved for disaster assistance. The Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), partners in the state's disaster recovery, provide the following summary of assistance approved as of Jan. 22:
- More than $471 million in disaster assistance for housing, disaster-related needs and disaster unemployment assistance has been approved for Texans for Hurricane Ike recovery.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $524 million in low-interest disaster loans.
- There is $64.6 million approved for short-term, transitional sheltering in hotels/motels for eligible applicants. Some 4,200 eligible individuals and families are still participating in the program.
- To date, nearly $375 million in public assistance funding has been obligated for local public infrastructure repair and debris removal costs.
- FEMA has provided temporary manufactured housing for more than 3,100 applicants or 84 percent of the 3,745 applicants eligible for direct housing assistance.
- More than 20 million cubic yards or 87 percent of eligible debris has been cleared from disaster-affected counties.
- There are 10 FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers open in affected counties, offering face-to-face assistance. Nearly 148,000 visits have been made to the centers.
The deadline to register is Feb. 6. To apply for assistance, go online to www.fema.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired.
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, 26-Jan-2009 08:49:53