FEMA: $30M in Disaster Assistance Going to Texas Following March Storms

More than $29.9 million in federal and state aid to date is helping the residents of 13 Texas counties recover from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in March, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Assistance is ongoing and residents of Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler counties are encouraged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster assistance.

The state of Texas, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and voluntary agencies have been working to help Texans recover.

The following is a snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of April 25:

• Nearly $18.4 million has been approved to help homeowners and renters;
• More than $11.5 million has been approved by SBA for 174 low-interest disaster loans for businesses, homeowners and renters to help pay for damage not covered by insurance.
• Of that, more than $11.2 million went to homeowners and renters; and
• More than $366,000 for businesses.
• 1,674 survivors have received assistance; and
• 99 percent of the home inspections have been completed.

President Barack Obama also has declared a major disaster in four Texas counties — Fayette, Grimes, Harris and Parker — that suffered severe flooding after heavy rainfall last week.

FEMA said residents of those counties who sustained damage or losses from the storms and flooding that occurred April 17-24 can now register for disaster assistance.

The disaster designation enables residents to received federal grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

FEMA says damage surveys continue and more counties could be added to the declaration.

Topics Texas Windstorm