By The Numbers 029
Ike Update: More Than $1.8 Billion Is Helping Speed Texas' Recovery
Release Date: March 20, 2009
Release Number: 1791-450
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Ike
AUSTIN, Texas -- As the Lone Star State continues to move forward in its recovery from Hurricane Ike, more than $1.8 billion in federal and state disaster assistance is helping Texans rebuild homes and lives.
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 March 19:
- Nearly $522 million in disaster assistance for housing, disaster-related needs and disaster unemployment assistance has been approved for Hurricane Ike recovery.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $587 million in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes.
- Nearly $96 million for short-term, transitional sheltering in hotels for eligible applicants.
- To date, more than $625 million in public assistance funding has been obligated and sent to the state of Texas for local public infrastructure repair and debris removal costs.
- FEMA has provided temporary manufactured housing for more than 3,600 applicants or 98 percent of applicants eligible for direct housing assistance.
- Nearly 8,000 Texans are in temporary housing under the Disaster Housing Assistance Program, which is funded by FEMA and administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- More than 21 million cubic yards, or 96 percent of all eligible debris, has been cleared from disaster-affected counties.
- One FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center remains open out of 130 recovery centers that have served the affected counties in the disaster. Nearly 160,000 visits have been made to the centers.
To follow up on applications, go online to www.fema.gov/ike or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired.
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
Last Modified: Monday, 23-Mar-2009 08:33:23