AUSTIN, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $3.9 million to the City of Orange for debris removal following Hurricane Harvey.  The city removed 225,000 cubic yards of debris from public rights of way.  The cost of the debris removal in Orange is nearly $4.3 million. The grant of nearly $3.9 million is the federal share of the cost and requires a 10 percent nonfederal match by the applicant, or $389,939. This grant comes from FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program which reimburses communities for actions taken in...

AUSTIN, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $1 billion to Texas cities, counties and certain nonprofits affected by Hurricane Harvey.  The Public Assistance grant program has reimbursed eligible applicants for more than 2,100 projects since Hurricane Harvey made landfall last year. A recent grant of more than $45 million to the Humble Independent School District pushed the obligations over the $1 billion mark.  The grant to Humble ISD paid for mold remediation, contaminated water removal and repairs to the Kingwood High School campus. The main...

AUSTIN, Texas — Every disaster is different and brings unique challenges, but one thing you know it may bring is a need for money. Whether you have to pay for food, a few nights away from home, or a complete home rebuild, you’ll feel better if you’ve planned ahead.  During the final week of National Preparedness month, make sure your transition from disaster to recovery is as smooth as possible by following the steps below. Put some money — and some cash — aside: Consider saving money in an emergency savings account...

AUSTIN, Texas — Everyone should be prepared for a disaster with a pre-packed emergency kit, full family communication plan and carefully mapped evacuation routes. People who have access and functional needs or disabilities, however, need to take additional steps to ensure they are ready for the unexpected. Medical services and pharmacies may be unreachable or closed for several days after a disaster, so it’s crucial to consider the resources you use regularly and determine what to do if those resources are limited or unavailable. Follow the steps below to get started and...

AUSTIN, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $5.8 million to the Humble Independent School District for emergency protective measures taken before, during and following Hurricane Harvey.  The district secured the campus facilities, opened an Emergency Operations Center, placed barricades, directed traffic and pumped flood water from the facilities. The FEMA grant covers 100 percent of the project’s costs because the district completed their work within 30 days of the disaster declaration period. This grant comes from FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program which reimburses communities for actions taken...