Six Months After Allison, Disaster Assistance Reaches $1.05 Billion
Release Date: December 14, 2001
Release Number: 1379-132
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Houston, TX -- Six months after President Bush declared a major disaster for the State of Texas, 119,109 residents have registered for assistance and $1.05 billion in federal and state disaster assistance has been provided to affected families and businesses.
This includes $179.9 million to help with temporary housing costs and $389.6 million in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans. The state also has disbursed $239.6 million in grants for essential disaster-related needs unmet by other assistance programs.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has approved $90.6 million in federal funds to help pay for acquiring substantially damaged homes.
In addition, Disaster Unemployment Assistance amounted to more than $970,000, and Public Assistance totaled more than $150.7 million.
"We have come a long way in providing the assistance needed in the affected counties after Tropical Storm Allison," said Scott Wells, federal coordinating officer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "However, the $1.05 billion figure will continue to escalate until all applicants have received compensation for eligible damages."
Butch Smith, state coordinating officer, Division of Emergency Management (DEM), Texas Department of Public Safety, was quick to express his appreciation to "both state and federal agencies personnel for the true cooperation that has been displayed, and continues to be displayed, in getting assistance to those affected by Allison."
Following is a brief description of FEMA and the State of Texas' disaster assistance programs.
DISASTER HOUSING
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Housing Assistance Program helps people who are unable to live in their homes because of damage or other disaster-related reasons. More than $179.9 million in grants were approved for 90,000 households to assist them with rental housing and minor home repairs.
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY GRANT (IFG) PROGRAM
The IFG program provides funds for the necessary expenses and serious needs of disaster victims that cannot be met through other forms of disaster assistance, or through other means such as insurance. Among eligible categories are essential home repairs, replacement of personal property, and transportation. The program is administered by the State and is funded 75 percent by FEMA and 25 percent by local sources. State officials have disbursed $239.6 million for IFG grants for more than 47,000 households.
U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
SBA is the primary source of federal funds for long-term disaster recovery for homeowners, renters, non-farm businesses and private non-profit organizations. These low-interest disaster loans cover costs of repair or replacement of damaged real estate, personal property and business assets not fully covered by insurance or other aid.
More than $389.6 million has been approved in SBA loans. This total represents $328.2 million in loans to individuals and more than $61.4 million in loans to businesses.
DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE (DUA)
DUA was made available through the Texas Workforce Commission for those who lost income because of the disaster, including farmers, farm workers, migrant farm workers, and other self-employed individuals. As of December 1, some 1,665 claims had been approved and more than $970,000 disbursed in unemployment assistance. The last day to claim DUA was December 8, 2001.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PA)
The PA program provides funds to eligible municipalities, public agencies and qualified non-profit organizations for approved costs of disaster related debris removal, emergency protective measures, road repairs, repair of water control facilities, and restoration of buildings, utilities and recreational facilities. More than $150.7 million has been approved (75 percent paid by FEMA, $113 million) for all projects, including debris cleanup and emergency protective measures.
MILESTONES ACHIEVED DURING TROPICAL STORM ALLISON
- Registrations For Assistance- To date, total individual registrations for disaster assistance are 119,109. This figure places Allison nationally as the third largest federally declared disaster since 1996.
- Registration Deadlines- Due to the continuing volume of registrations, there have been five extensions to the normal 60-day window for such activity. That feat also measures as a first for the State of Texas.
- Public Assistance Program- Allison now ranks as the largest Public Assistance disaster for the State of Texas. As of December 11, FEMA has allocated more than $113 million (the federal share) and that figure is expected to climb to $900 million before all pending projects are funded. In comparison, the 2000 December ice storm in Texas that affected 42 counties had a public assistance cost of $46 million.
- Recovery- Three editions totaling 3,027,900 copies of Recovery Times were distributed to persons in the 31 counties declared a disaster through 75 newspapers in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. This was the greatest distribution of any disaster in Texas.
- Small Business Administration- 14,258 loans were made, totaling $389.6 million for individuals and businesses. Tropical Storm Allison is the largest disaster served by SBA in Texas.
If residents who have already applied for assistance want to check on the status of an application or update contact information, they should call the toll-free Helpline number at 1-800-525-0321 (1-800-462-7585 for hearing-and speech-impaired persons). The Helpline is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Last Modified: Friday, 17-Oct-2003 10:11:32