FEMA has announced that Houston and Harris County will be receiving millions of dollars for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts:
The funds are distributed through Public Assistance Program grants, which reimburse eligible costs, including $37 million to the city of Houston for housing and transportation of evacuees; $9.7 million to Harris County and $1.7 million to the city of Houston for shelter operations; $17 million to the city of Austin for providing interim housing to evacuees; $5.4 million to the city of Austin for housing and transportation; and $1.7 million to the state of Texas for costs incurred by the National Guard for security, transportation and medical response, both in Texas and New Orleans.
The funds released Thursday do not represent the total costs incurred by the state and municipalities. Additional funding requests are under consideration now with release expected soon. Other costs, such as education and health care are being addressed legislatively and through the individual agencies.
Sen. John Cornyn emphasized that this is only the beginning:
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said the funds were “a big step forward toward making Texas whole after the unprecedented efforts to transport, house and feed evacuees following Katrina.”
“Though more funds are on the way, it’s encouraging to see these steps toward reimbursing communities that open their doors and their wallets when our neighbors needed it most,” Cornyn said. “Much remains to be done before Texas is made whole, and the effects of both Katrina and Rita are erased, but this is good progress and I’m confident that more is on the way.”
