FEMA Grants to Fund Texas Projects

Several Texas cities and counties benefitted from grants awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during the month of August.

As part of its Public Assistance grant program, which reimburses applicants for actions taken in response to and during disaster recovery, the Port Aransas Independent School District received more than $1 million to make repairs to its athletic fields following damage by Hurricane Harvey. League City also received a grant for more than $1 million for emergency communications, evacuations, and sheltering through the grant program. During Hurricane Harvey, League City opened an Emergency Operations Center to coordinate search and rescue, resources, and damage assessments.

Other Texas areas received funds through the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which requires a 25 percent nonfederal match. The program provides funds to implement hazard mitigation measures following a disaster declaration.

Orange County was awarded more than $2.7 million to fund a project to acquire and demolish 20 structures impacted by flooding by Hurricane Harvey that may be at risk from future flooding. The City of Friendswood also received more than $5.6 million to purchase and demolish 26 flood-prone homes impacted by Harvey. Once the buildings are removed in both Friendswood and Orange County, the land will remain an open space to reduce future flood damages.