FEMA Public Assistance Extended to More East Texas Counties

AUSTIN — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has extended federal disaster aid to include 51 additional Texas counties. This amendment provides for supplemental funding for infrastructure repairs in the wake of May’s severe storms, tornadoes, straight line winds and flooding. Among the new counties that were added are Angelina, Bowie, Cass, Cherokee, Harrison, Henderson, Nacogdoches and Rusk. In the original May 29 declaration, Cooke, Gaines, Grimes, Harris, Hays, Navarro, and Van Zandt counties were designated for FEMA Public Assistance funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken to protect life, public safety, and property.

Eligible applicants in these counties can now apply for FEMA Public Assistance (PA) reimbursement for repairs to roads and bridges, water control facilities, city and county owned buildings and equipment, utilities, parks and recreational facilities and other public as well as some private facilities.

Supplementary funding under the PA program goes to the state and eligible agencies, tribal governments, local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations. Under the program, FEMA obligates funds to the state for 75% of eligible costs, while the applicant covers the remaining 25%. The state forwards the federal funds to the eligible local governments or organizations that incurred costs.

You can go to http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4223 for more information on Texas disaster recovery.