Texas relief efforts for Ike exceed $1.8 billion
Polk County Enterprise - January 2009

AUSTIN — Federal and state disaster assistance for Texans affected by Hurricane Ike continues to grow daily. The total now tops $1.8 billion. The Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), partners in the state’s recovery, provide the following summary of continuing disaster assistance as of Friday, Jan. 2: • More than $443.5 million in disaster assistance for housing, disaster- related needs and disaster unemployment assistance is in the hands of Texans for Hurricane Ike recovery. • The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $476 million in low-interest disaster loans. • More than $583.5 million has been billed to FEMA for shortterm, transitional sheltering in hotels/ motels for eligible applicants. Some 4,602 eligible individuals and families are still participating in the program. • To date, more than $308 million in public assistance funding has been obligated for local government infrastructure repair and debris removal costs. • FEMA has provided temporary manufactured housing for 2,617 applicants or 72 percent of the 3,648 applicants eligible for direct housing assistance. • More than 20 million cubic yards or 85 percent of eligible debris has been cleared from disasteraffected counties. More than 139,000 visits have been made to the centers. The deadline to register for assistance has been extended to Monday, Jan. 12, 2009. To register, go online to www.fema.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.