More Than $22.7 Million in Federal Disaster Aid to Help Texas Communities Recover from the March Storm

AUSTIN, Texas – Federal officials estimate more than $22.7 million in disaster assistance will help fund local governments’ recovery from the March 7-29 tornadoes and flooding.

The presidential declaration on March 19 made federal assistance available to 13 Texas counties including Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler. 

FEMA funds helping fuel the recovery in these counties include Public Assistance, an essential element of federal disaster response that benefits everyone—neighborhoods, cities and states, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations.

Public Assistance dollars help local governments:

• clean up the community and repair roads and bridges;
• put water systems and utilities back in order;
• repair hospitals and emergency services;
• rebuild libraries and replace damaged books;
• rebuild schools and universities; and
• restore damaged public parks for families to enjoy again.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides a minimum of 75 percent of the cost to repair or replace disaster-damaged infrastructure.

“Public Assistance grants support the work that helps an entire community recover,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III, who is in charge of FEMA’s operations in Texas. “These are federal tax dollars coming back to Texas to rebuild taxpayer-funded infrastructure.”

Public Assistance grant recipients can include:

• state agencies;
• local and county governments; and
• private nonprofit organizations that own or operate facilities providing essential government services.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the March storms at fema.gov/disaster/4266; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

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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.

 Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.