Disaster Aid Tops One Billion Dollars for Texans

Housing Assistance tops the list of FEMA funding for Hurricane Ike recovery in Texas

FEMA's latest report, issued today, shows the agency has disbursed $310 million dollars to Texans for housing needs, and $77 million for transportation, medical expenses and personal property repair and replacement.

Excerpts from the complete statement follow:

AUSTIN, Texas -- More than one billion dollars in federal and state disaster assistance has gone to help Texans recover from Hurricane Ike. From the recovering residents in disaster-affected neighborhoods who are rebuilding their lives, to the local city governments that are repairing damages to their infrastructure, progress is being made because of hard work and substantial funding.

Included in the billion dollar's worth of recovery funds are:

* $310 million disbursed for Housing Assistance grants to rent temporary housing
* $77 million disbursed for Other Needs Assistance such as transportation, medical expenses and personal property repair and replacement
* $2.8 million disbursed in FEMA-funded disaster unemployment
* $345 million approved in SBA low-interest loans for renters, homeowners, and business owners
* $215 million billed to FEMA for hotel stays for displaced Texans
* $122 million obligated in Public Assistance, the first of many cost-share and state administered PA reimbursements. These funds go to local governments for debris removal, emergency protective measures taken before and after the storm, and infrastructure repair on a cost-share basis.

"Surpassing the billion dollar mark is a great stride in disaster recovery," said Stephen DeBlasio who heads up the federal recovery effort. "But many more steps are needed; as state, private, voluntary, and federal partners continue to put those in need on the road to recovery."