FEMA Denies Texas Household Aid Request After July Floods: State May Appeal Within 30 Days
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied Texas' request for direct aid to households affected by the July floods. Governor Greg Abbott's office said on October 21 that it and the Texas Division of Emergency Management are reviewing the determination and the appeals process; the state has 30 days from the determination to appeal.
Severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding struck the Texas Hill Country and southwest Texas from July 12 through August 4. The event was declared a major disaster on September 1, opening public-assistance funding for emergency work and repair of public infrastructure, but it did not authorize the Individual Assistance program that can help households with temporary housing, basic home repairs and certain uninsured losses. In a September 28 letter, FEMA also denied additional public-assistance designations Texas sought for some counties and rejected a request for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding. On September 25, the governor announced that four additional counties had been approved for public assistance, bringing the total to 23, while requests for individual assistance in 30 counties were still pending.
With federal household aid denied, local charities have filled part of the gap. The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country said it had provided about $1.3 million in emergency help to 947 households and temporary housing support to 58 households.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，作者 sbmeaper1，CC0，德州 Hill Country 河流实景
