WACO, Texas -- Federal disaster assistance to Texas residents and businesses affected by June 16-August 3 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding has reached $58,596,236 officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today. The following is a summary of ongoing response and recovery efforts:
To date, FEMA has approved a total of $19,584,770 in disaster housing assistance through its Individual Assistance program, which includes temporary rental assistance for those whose homes have been severely damaged and funds to make essential repairs. Individual Assistance is available to residents in 43 Texas counties.
An additional $4,548,541 has been approved for the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program which helps pay for items and services such as: medical and dental care, funeral costs (as a result of the flooding), transportation expenses and household items and clothing.
13,595 individuals and families affected by recent flooding have registered for assistance through FEMA's toll-free registration line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by going online to www.fema.gov. Individuals with speech or hearing impairment may call 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). Recovery specialists are available to assist with the registration process, provide counsel on assistance programs and also check on the status of an application. The registration deadline is October 29, 2007.
FEMA has approved more than $10,275,925 through its Public Assistance program, which is available to state agencies, tribal and local governments, and certain private non-profits in 71 counties, more than one-quarter of all Texas counties. Public Assistance funds are used to reimburse expenses for emergency protective measures, to remove debris and restore damaged infrastructure. FEMA and state staff are working with officials in affected areas to assess needs and guide them through the application process.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 512 applications totaling $24,187,000 in disaster loan assistance. The SBA is the primary source of federal funds for long-term disaster recovery for owners of private property, including homeowners, renters, non-farm businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. These low-interest loans cover costs of repair or replacement of damaged real estate, personal property and business assets not fully covered by insurance or other aid, and for small businesses, such loans cover working capital needs caused by the disaster.
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.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 1-800-462-7585.
