A presidential disaster declaration authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help communities recover; and, in Rita's aftermath, FEMA has obligated more than $360.3 million in public assistance funds to the state of Texas to help with infrastructure recovery costs.
"FEMA's grant sources for disaster assistance are through either the individual households or public agencies," said E.C. "Butch" Smith, director of the Texas Transitional Recovery Office in Austin. "The Public Assistance program helps public agencies respond to disasters, recover from their impact and mitigate against future disasters."
Public assistance grants are for state agencies, local governments, Indian tribes and some private nonprofit organizations that perform certain services of a public nature, including some educational institutions. The current obligated amount of $360.3 million includes $54.3 million for emergency work and permanent work on school properties damaged by Rita.
For a project to be eligible for FEMA and state approval the work must be required or completed as a result of a federally declared disaster; the site or work performed must be located within the disaster area; and the repair or restoration must be the legal responsibility of the eligible applicant.
When a project is approved, FEMA "obligates" the funds to the state for administration to eligible applicants. Typically the federal share of eligible costs is 75 percent. Texas is receiving Hurricane Rita infrastructure grants based on 90 percent reimbursement for permanent work, and 100 percent reimbursement for emergency work.
Eligible projects resulting from Rita include documented debris removal, temporary sheltering, interim housing, emergency protective measures, and work designed to restore damaged facilities to pre-disaster condition.
Documentation of damage is important to the project submission process. The process protects public funds and maintains accountability for their use. Common reasons that funding may be held up or denied included: insufficient documentation, poor project accounting, unsupported costs, duplicated benefits, excessive equipment charges or unrelated project charges. Eligible expenses may not be reimbursed if improperly documented.
As a result of Hurricane Rita, Texas will also receive $103.6 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds, which have been tagged by the state to be used for voluntary buyouts of homes in the flood plain; for public shelters; and construction of safe rooms in residences for storm protection. Authorized under Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and administered by FEMA, the HMGP provides grants that allow states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. These projects carry a 75 percent federal share.
