By the Numbers 025
Ike Update: Texas' Recovery Assistance Approaches $1.6 Billion
Release Date: February 20, 2009
Release Number: 1791-432
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Ike
AUSTIN, Texas -- More than five months after Hurricane Ike struck a heavy blow to the Texas coast, Texans are moving forward with recovery with the help of nearly $1.6 billion in federal and state 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 Feb. 19:
- More than $499 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 $566 million in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes.
- More than $80 million has been billed for short-term, transitional sheltering in hotels for eligible applicants.
- To date, more than $426 million (as of Feb. 20) 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 3,500 applicants or 96 percent of the 3,600 applicants eligible for direct housing assistance.
- More than 7,000 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 20 million cubic yards, or 95 percent of eligible debris, has been cleared from disaster-affected counties.
- There are nine FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers open in affected counties, offering face-to-face assistance. Nearly 155,000 visits have been made to the centers.
To follow up on applications, 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 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-Feb-2009 08:35:02