Federal Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Rita
Tuesday, September 27
- Organization: FEMA
Release Date: September 24, 2005
Release Number: HQ-05-301
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal disaster aid has been made available for Texas to help
people and community's recovery efforts in the area struck by Hurricane
Rita beginning on September 23, 2005, and continuing.
R. David Paulison, Acting Under Secretary of Homeland Security for
Emergency Preparedness and Response, and Director of FEMA, said the
assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for
the state by President Bush.
Immediately after the President's action, Paulison designated the
following counties eligible for aid to stricken residents and business
owners: Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton,
Orange and Tyler.
The assistance, to be coordinated by FEMA, can include grants to help
pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious
disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small
Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and
business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local
governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in all 254
counties in the State of Texas for debris removal and emergency
protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, at 75 percent
Federal funding.
For a period of up to 72 hours, Federal funding is available at 100
percent of the total eligible costs for debris removal and emergency
protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all 254
counties in the State of Texas.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard
mitigation measures statewide.
Paulison indicated that more counties and additional forms of assistance
may be designated after assessments are fully completed in the affected
areas. He named Alexander S. Wells of FEMA as the Federal Coordinating
Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Wells said those who sustained losses in the counties designated for aid
to affected residents and business owners can begin the disaster
application process tomorrow by registering online at www.fema.gov or by
calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing
and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 24
hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response
and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also
initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with
state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood
Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Release Number: HQ-05-301
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal disaster aid has been made available for Texas to help
people and community's recovery efforts in the area struck by Hurricane
Rita beginning on September 23, 2005, and continuing.
R. David Paulison, Acting Under Secretary of Homeland Security for
Emergency Preparedness and Response, and Director of FEMA, said the
assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for
the state by President Bush.
Immediately after the President's action, Paulison designated the
following counties eligible for aid to stricken residents and business
owners: Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton,
Orange and Tyler.
The assistance, to be coordinated by FEMA, can include grants to help
pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious
disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small
Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and
business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local
governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in all 254
counties in the State of Texas for debris removal and emergency
protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, at 75 percent
Federal funding.
For a period of up to 72 hours, Federal funding is available at 100
percent of the total eligible costs for debris removal and emergency
protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all 254
counties in the State of Texas.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard
mitigation measures statewide.
Paulison indicated that more counties and additional forms of assistance
may be designated after assessments are fully completed in the affected
areas. He named Alexander S. Wells of FEMA as the Federal Coordinating
Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Wells said those who sustained losses in the counties designated for aid
to affected residents and business owners can begin the disaster
application process tomorrow by registering online at www.fema.gov or by
calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing
and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 24
hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response
and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also
initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with
state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood
Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
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