TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE
Community Development & Revitalization
CDBG-DR
George P. Bush, Commissioner
|
|
This Newsletter Includes:
|
|
- HUD Approves $5 Billion State Action Plan
- Commissioner Bush Meets With Harris County Officials To Discuss $43 Million For Local Buyout Program
- Commissioner Bush Visits Rio Grande Valley Immediately Following Devastating Flood
- Severe Weather Warning
- TDHCA Needs Your Input
- Recovery Updates by County
- Completion of PREPS Program/PREPS Numbers by County
- Statewide Recovery Progress Report
|
|
|
|
"We work to rebuild communities, to put Texans back
in their homes, and to help businesses recover
after the trauma of disaster."
George P. Bush
|
|
COMMISSIONER BUSH ANNOUNCES HUD APPROVAL OF $5 BILLION STATE ACTION PLAN FOR HURRICANE HARVEY HOUSING RECOVERY:
|
|
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved the
State Action Plan for $5.024 billion
in Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to help Texas recover from Hurricane Harvey. The approved plan will deliver
$2.7 billion
in recovery funds to areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey outside of the City of Houston and Harris County. The remaining
$2.3 billion
direct allocation to Harris County and the City of Houston will soon be submitted as future amendments to the State Action Plan pending submission of each entity's Local Action Plans.
"The GLO is committed to its mission to expedite federal housing recovery assistance as quickly as possible to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey," said Commissioner Bush. "Due to the GLO's pre-planning and preparation, these federal recovery funds will be in the hands of Texans faster than in previous disasters. Our momentum is strong and we are working every day to keep our recovery moving forward."
"These housing and infrastructure funds will help Texans recover and Texas communities to rebuild stronger," said Commissioner Bush. "While this allocation of CDBG-DR funds is moving more quickly than previous major disaster packages, it can never be fast enough. The recovery from a storm the size of Harvey has required a Texas-sized coordinated response. For those who are still struggling, we will continue to work with our federal partners to streamline regulations and deploy recovery dollars to our affected Texas communities."
View state action plans at:
|
|
COMMISSIONER BUSH MEETS WITH HARRIS COUNTY OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS $43 MILLION
FOR LOCAL BUYOUT PROGRAM:
|
|
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush met with Houston and Harris County officials on
a swing through the Bayou City, presenting an agreement for buyout funds to county leaders and giving a brief update on the Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts the GLO oversees.
|
|
Commissioner George P. Bush met with Harris County Judge Ed Emmett to discuss
long-term Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts including first round of
funding for buyouts through CDBG-DR funds.
|
|
COMMISSIONER BUSH VISITS RIO GRANDE VALLEY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING DEVASTATING FLOOD:
|
|
Commissioner Bush in Rio Grande Valley visiting families displaced by recent floods who
are sheltering at the First Baptist Church of Weslaco, meeting with local leaders
and responders including Red Cross volunteers.
|
|
Commissioner Bush took a tour of the Valley this week and met with local officials
in both Hidalgo County and Cameron County to discuss Texas recovery efforts.
|
|
Commissioner Bush visited Willacy County to meet with local leaders to
discuss the recent flooding and potential mitigation projects.
|
|
GLO disaster recovery team members met with County Judges Phillip Spenrath (Wharton), Nate McDonald (Matagorda), and Ty Prause (Colorado) and other local leaders to discuss how Texas counties can use CDBG-DR funds to mitigate flooding & protect residents from hurricanes.
|
|
FEMA MANUFACTURED HOUSING UNITS
AND SEVERE WEATHER:
|
|
FEMA Manufactured Housing Units (MHUs) are designed to be exceptionally safe and secure temporary housing solutions. But as with all forms of housing, FEMA MHUs are at risk for
damage in severe weather. Below are some practices you can follow to protect yourself,
your family and your property while living in a FEMA MHU:
- Never take shelter in an MHU during high winds, a tornado, a hurricane or a flood.
- If severe weather is predicted, stay alert to weather warnings and comply with any evacuation orders.
- Always follow the guidance of local officials. It is their job to protect you, so it is your job to listen to their warnings and follow their recommendations or directives.
- Plan out evacuation routes. Be sure to plan multiple routes to several safe shelters so that you are ready for potential road closures.
- If you need to evacuate your MHU, do so, but leave your FEMA unit in place.
In Case of a Tornado:
- If a tornado warning is issued for your area, evacuate the MHU immediately.
- Go to the lowest floor of a nearby sturdy building or storm shelter, away from the windows.
In Case of a Hurricane:
- Hurricanes are particularly dangerous because of their unpredictability. While they are usually accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds, they also can cause tornadoes and floods.
- Evacuate immediately if local officials recommend MHU occupants find sturdier shelter.
In Case of a Flood:
- If the potential for flooding exists in your area, monitor the status through weather warnings and notices.
- Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If a flash flood warning is issued, immediately evacuate and move to higher ground.
- If you have time, place any important items on the highest shelves. Disconnect electrical devices, but avoid standing in water while doing so.
- When evacuating, do not attempt to walk or drive through flooded areas. Six inches of water can cause you to fall and can flood most compact or midsize cars. A foot of water will cause most vehicles to float. Two feet of water can sweep away even trucks and SUVs.
- Take your pet with you.
|
|
With the recent flooding in South Texas, it's important to be proactive when assessing damages. Keep these tips in mind to make the cleanup process as painless as possible.
|
|
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS (TDHCA) NEEDS YOUR INPUT:
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), General Land Office (GLO), Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) are requesting public input for the development of the state's draft Analysis of Impediments (AI) to Fair Housing Choice.
Public consultation will take place during June and July 2018 with 40 meetings held throughout the state, along with four conference calls, to gather input on the needs and goals of Texans for future use of federal program funds. To view all of the AI events, please visit TDHCA's online calendar at:
http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/events/index.jsp?eventTypeID=all&showNum=20
and select "Fair Housing Listings" in the "Future" drop-down menu.
Feedback regarding fair housing issues, particularly issues affecting protected classes under the Fair Housing Act: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status; and the ability of those persons to exercise housing choice is welcome.
For more information about the draft AI to Fair Housing Choice, please contact TDHCA Fair Housing Research Specialist Nathan Darus at:
512-475-0306
or
nathan.darus@tdhca.state.tx.us
.
Details regarding the development of the draft AI is available at:
|
|
HURRICANE HARVEY COUNTY
RECOVERY UPDATES:
|
|
|
|
41-COUNTY RECOVERY:
Please click the following link to access the most
up-to-date dashboards for Hurricane Harvey impacted areas.
*Please note:
If the link doesn't work in your email,
copy and paste into browser.
|
|
Total PREPS Homes Completed:
15,666
|
|
To see PREPS Hurricane Harvey affected counties reports,
click the following link:
|
|
STATEWIDE PROGRESS REPORT:
HURRICANE HARVEY RECOVERY UPDATE AS OF 7/2/18
|
|
|
|
Department of Homeland Security
Disaster Preparedness
FEMA Disaster Preparedness
(voice, 711/VRS-Video Relay Service).
American Red Cross
Department of Housing and
Urban Development
Texas Division of Emergency
Management
National Flood Insurance
Program Flood
Texas Department of
Insurance
Small Business
Administration
|
|
DISASTER RECOVERY RESOURCES:
|
|
 |
Survivors May Register in
Many Ways:
• (TTY:
800-462-7585
). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).
• Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). Find the location of nearby DRCs online at
www.fema.gov/DRC
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Find Resources on
Social Media:
FEMA – Hurricane Harvey:
Twitter: @FEMARegion6
Twitter: @RebuildTXtoday
Texas General Land Office:
Twitter: @txglo
Instagram: @glotx
Download A Copy of The Hurricane Harvey Recovery Guide:
|
|
|
|
Important Contacts:
Federal Agencies:
FEMA Fraud Hotline:
(800) 323-8603
Internal Revenue Service:
(800) 829-1040, TTY (800) 829-4059
Social Security Administration:
(800) 772-1213
Department of Veterans Affairs:
(800) 827-1000
State Agencies:
Texas General Land Office:
(844) 893-8937; or (512) 475-5000
Consumer Protection Help Line:
(800) 621-0508
Texas Windstorm Insurance Assoc. & Texas FAIR Plan:
(877) 281-1431 or Spanish: (866) 443-3144
Texas Dept. of Insurance Consumer Help Line:
(800) 252-3439
Shelter, Food, and Disaster Services:
2-1-1
Education Hotline for Houston, Beaumont and Victoria areas:
(512) 463-9603
Governor Abbott's Information Hotline:
(800) 843-5789
|
|
|
|
TexasRebuilds.com
(512) 475-5000
Texas General Land Office
P.O. Box 12873
Austin, Texas 78711-2873
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
