By the Numbers 017
More Than $1.36 Billion in Disaster Assistance for Texans
Release Date: December 12, 2008
Release Number: 1791-329
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Ike
AUSTIN, Texas -- The federal disaster assistance that's helping Texans recover from Hurricane Ike topped the $1.36 billion mark just three months after the devastating storm hit the Gulf Coast on Sept. 13.
The following is a summary of ongoing recovery efforts by the Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at close of business Dec. 11:
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More than $328 million has been disbursed for temporary housing assistance and home repairs, under the Individuals and Households Program (IHP). The deadline to register for disaster assistance has been extended until Jan. 12, 2009.
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More than $84 million in Other Needs Assistance (ONA) has been disbursed to help meet serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other aid programs. These include personal property, moving and storage, transportation, medical and burial expenses.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved nearly $416 million in low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofits. SBA approved more than $28 million in the last week alone.
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Individuals who have been unable to work because of the disaster have received nearly $3.6 million from a special Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program which may assist people not normally covered by unemployment insurance.
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FEMA has obligated $221 million in Public Assistance aid for eligible local governments for debris removal, emergency protective services and infrastructure repairs.
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To date, 3,642 applicants have been found eligible for manufactured housing. Agreements have been signed by 1,958 occupants and they have moved in or will be moving in soon. Currently, there are 320 manufactured housing units in the installation process.
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FEMA has been billed more than $310 million for Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA). There currently are 4,542 applicants checked into hotels. Under TSA, FEMA provides payments directly to hotels for disaster victims who have not yet found long-term housing. This number is decreasing daily as Texans move into more stable housing environments. The deadline for the TSA program is Jan. 15, 2009 for eligible applicants.
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FEMA inspectors have completed 383,635 inspections of damaged homes or 99 percent of inspections issued.
- There are 17 FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers open in affected counties, offering face-to-face assistance. A list of current locations can be found at www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/dr1791_drc_list.htm). Nearly 130,448 visits have been made to the centers.
Residents and business owners with Ike-related losses may register for disaster assistance online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585, 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.
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, 15-Dec-2008 08:49:21