Texas Receives More Than $1.5 Million in Federal Funding for University of Texas Medical Branch Mitigation Measures

DENTON, Texas – The state of Texas has received more than $1.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for mitigation measures for a University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) building.

Hurricane Ike damaged the UTMB Customs House, also known as the 1700 Strand Building, in 2008. These mitigation measures will protect it from potential future storm damage.

The measures include elevating a new chiller onto a new exterior platform; relocating existing mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems from the basement level to upper floors; and restoring the basement with a new floor plan, new lighting and fire protection system. The basement will now serve as a “shell space,” which is essentially an unfinished space enclosed by an exterior building shell.

To date, FEMA has obligated more than $476.8 million for UTMB-related projects, in the aftermath of Ike.

FEMA’s contribution, made possible by a Public Assistance grant, represents a 90 percent federal cost share. FEMA awards funding for projects directly to the state of Texas; the state then forwards the grant to the eligible applicant.

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