Originally published June 4, 2015
Hours after Governor Gregg Abbott requested it, President Barack Obama granted a Presidential Disaster Declaration for much of Texas, including Hays County Friday evening.
That opened the way for federal funding to aid devastated counties throughout the coming weeks and months of recovery. “I thank the President and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for their prompt response to Texas’ urgent need for a federal disaster declaration,” said Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “We have seen so many lives lost, homes damaged or destroyed, and communities threatened by this devastating storm system. Texas is grateful for the swift response by FEMA and I look forward to working with my FEMA partners to ensure critical assistance is delivered to Texans in need.”
Abbott’s request for Public Assistance, which sends funds to state and local governments to pay for part of the costs of rebuilding infrastructure and damaged public property, for removing debris and instituting emergency protective measures and public services, included Hays, Cooke, Gaines, Grimes, Harris, Navarro and Van Zandt counties. That type of funding also goes in the form of loans for communities to pay for essential government functions and grants for public schools.
Generally, public assistance programs pay for 75 percent of the approved project costs. Abbott also secured Individual Assistance for Hays, Harris and Van Zandt counties. Individual Assistance provides affected residents and businesses access to Disaster Housing, Disaster Grants, Low-Interest Disaster Loans, and other disaster aid programs including crisis counseling, disaster-related unemployment assistance, legal aid and assistance with income tax, Social Security and Veteran’s benefits. Additional counties may be added to the Governor’s request once they meet the threshold required by the federal government to request federal disaster aid.
