FEMA Provides Funding to Rowlett, Texas, for Tornado Debris Removal

DENTON, Texas –– The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded an initial payment of $1,875,000 to the state of Texas for the city of Rowlett for debris removal. A tornado swept through the city on Dec. 26, 2015, along a 3.5 mile track. Storm debris blocked the paths of emergency vehicles and the general public and created significant danger to motorists. The city of Rowlett removed debris to eliminate threats to public health and safety.

The city estimates the total cost of debris removal at $5 million. FEMA Public Assistance grants pay the federal share of the eligible costs for the work and will cover 75 percent of the cost of the debris removal. Additional federal funding is expected to follow, as FEMA continues to work with its state and local partners to review documentation of final expenses.

The funding is authorized under a Feb. 9, 2016, federal disaster declaration, which designated Dallas County and 50 other counties eligible for Public Assistance. The declaration covered severe winter storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred during the period of Dec. 26, 2015 through Jan. 21, 2016.

The mission of FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program is to provide assistance to state, tribal and local governments, and certain types of nonprofit organizations so that communities can quickly respond and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president.

Through the program, FEMA provides supplemental federal disaster grant assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities of certain nonprofit organizations.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.   Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.