FEMA Public Assistance Eligibility Expanded In Texas
Release Date: October 17, 2008
Release Number: 1791-153
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Ike
AUSTIN, Texas -- Four additional Texas counties - Aransas, Burleson, Nueces and San Patricio - are now eligible for federal disaster assistance to local governments, Indian tribes and certain private nonprofits, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced.
The four counties were added to the Sept. 13 federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Ike along with Rusk County, which was already declared eligible for FEMA's assistance to individuals and households.
In nine other Texas counties, Public Assistance eligibility has been expanded to include reimbursements to repair or replace public infrastructure damaged by the hurricane, as well as reimbursement for emergency measures and debris removal previously announced. The counties are Cherokee, Harris, Houston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Orange, San Augustine and Trinity.
The additions bring to 35 the number of counties now declared for Public Assistance. Angelina, Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Fort Bend, Hardin, Newton, Polk, Shelby and Tyler counties were already designated for all categories of Public Assistance. Reimbursement for eligible emergency work and debris removal is available to local governments, tribes and certain private nonprofits in Austin, Grimes, Jasper, Jefferson, Madison, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Jacinto, Walker, Waller and Washington counties.
Since the disaster declaration, FEMA and the Governor's Division of Emergency Management continued to assess damage from the storm. The Oct. 16 amendment to the original declaration recognized the further need identified to date for federal assistance.
Permanent repair work is eligible for a minimum of 75 percent federal funding. Currently, debris removal and emergency protective measures are being reimbursed 100 percent. Federal funding, also at 75 percent, is available for work to increase protection against future events, either in conjunction with disaster repairs or as stand-alone projects under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Application procedures for local governments in the affected areas are being explained at applicants' briefings conducted by the state. Local governments make requests to FEMA through formal Requests for Public Assistance.
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, 20-Oct-2008 08:54:10