One year after wildfires raced through Bastrop and impacted 64 other Texas counties, recovery continues with more than $63 million in disaster assistance provided to date, state and federal emergency management officials announced.
Since the Sept. 9, 2011, major disaster declaration, more than $39 million in state and federal recovery aid has already been approved for homeowners, renters and business owners for housing assistance and other disaster-related needs, and more than $23 million has been obligated to the state, state agencies, local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations under the Public Assistance (PA) program for emergency and permanent work reimbursements.
Included in the grand total is more than $22 million in low-interest disaster loans from FEMA’s federal partner, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The federal government’s primary source of funding for rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property, the SBA has already approved loans to 188 homeowners and 15 businesses.
“The Texas Division of Emergency Management continues to work with FEMA Region 6, local officials, other state and federal agencies, as well as private sector partners and volunteers to help our neighbors recover what was lost in our fire-ravaged communities. There is still much to be done, and we will continue to work together to ensure that eligible Texans receive the assistance they need to help them get back on their feet,” said Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd.
In addition to assistance for housing, other disaster-related needs, and reimbursement for infrastructure damage, FEMA is also supporting 59 households with Temporary Housing Units (THU). At its peak, the THU program housed more than 90 applicants and their families. Since then, more than 30 families have moved out of their THUs after securing more permanent housing. FEMA continues to work with the remaining THU occupants to move forward with their recovery.
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