$8.7 Million obligated to state of Texas

Austin, Texas, January 15: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal disaster aid in the form of Public Assistance has been made available to reimburse the State of Texas for disaster relief in Brazoria County, Polk County the City of Liberty.

The State of Texas forwards the FEMA funding to eligible local governments and certain private nonprofits able to document disaster-related expenses. FEMA has obligated 100 percent of the funds for the following project: $3.3 million as reimbursement for removal of 125,460 cubic yards of vegetative and woody debris deposited on the streets, public rights of way and county facilities for the Polk County, obligated $2,450,621 to remove and dispose of 152,968 cubic yards of vegetative debris (trees, branches and limbs) due to Hurricane Ike from the streets, rights of way and facilities for the Polk County and Obligated $2,991,024 to haul and dispose of 199,681 cubic yards of vegetative debris (trees, branches and limbs) deposited on city streets and rights of way by Hurricane Ike City of Liberty.

While Public Assistance reimbursement grants are aimed at governments and organizations, the final goal is to help a community and all its citizens recover from devastating natural disasters and mitigate impact from future disasters. It is one way tax dollars return to local residents at a time when they need it the most.