Hurricane Relief

FEMA: Federal Government Mobilizes as Southeast U.S. Prepares for Hurricane Dorian

President Donald J. Trump approved an emergency declaration for Florida today, making federal funding available to assist state, tribal and local governments with emergency and life-safety actions taken ahead of Hurricane Dorian.  The declaration authorizes FEMA to provide federal support and assistance for emergency measures to save lives, protect property and protect public health and…

EDA: $587 Million Available to Aid Communities Impacted by Natural Disasters

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has published the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY2019) Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) making $587 million available to eligible grantees in communities impacted by Presidentially declared natural disasters in 2018, and floods and tornadoes in 2019. “The Trump Administration…

HUD: Federal Financial Monitor Appointed to Oversee Puerto Rico Disaster Funds

Today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced its plan to appoint a Federal Financial Monitor to oversee the disbursement of disaster recovery dollars to Puerto Rico. “Given the Puerto Rico government’s alleged corruption, fiscal irregularities and mismanagement, we will appoint a Federal Financial Monitor to oversee the disbursement of all HUD disaster…

EDA: $5 Million Investment Made to Help UT Austin Recover from Hurricane Harvey in Port Aransas, TX

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $5 million grant to the University of Texas at Austin to renovate the University’s Marine Science Institute Campus in Port Aransas and help establish the Center for Coastal Ocean Science. This grant will be matched with $1.25…

EDA: $3 Million Grant Made to Spur Small Business Development in Hurricane Harvey-Impacted Dickinson, TX

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to Dickinson Economic Development Corporation in Texas, to help establish the Gulf Coast Market by renovating a storm-damaged, 30,000 sq. ft., building. The EDA grant, to be matched with $1.3 million in local investment,…

EDA: Investment in Hurricane Harvey Disaster Recovery Made in Anahuac, TX Opportunity Zone

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $5 million grant to the city of Anahuac, Texas, to protect businesses from future floods by rebuilding a wastewater treatment plant that was severely damaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The investment, to be located in a Tax…

EDA: $1.2 Million Invested to Stoke Post Disaster Business and Entrepreneurial Activity in Puerto Rico Opportunity Zone

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.2 million grant to Operation Hope, Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia, to provide up to 300 technical assistance workshops in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to help small businesses and entrepreneurs grow and succeed following Hurricanes Irma and…

HUD: $1.5 Billion Awarded to Support Seven States in Their Recovery from 2018 Disasters

Disaster recovery funds to repair damaged housing, businesses and infrastructure  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded nearly $1.5 billion to support seven states in their recovery from major disasters that occurred last year, including Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Florence and devastating wildfires in California. These funds are provided through HUD’s Community Development…

FEMA: Nearly $21 Million in Additional Grants Approved to Puerto Rico

FEMA has awarded about $21 million in additional funds to Puerto Rico to cover costs related to Hurricane María. These awards bring the amount of funds obligated under FEMA’s Public Assistance program to $5.7 billion. The latest grants approved are as follows: Nearly $17.8 million to Puerto Rico’s Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency, or COR3, for emergency protective…

FEMA: What is FEMA Public Assistance?

What is FEMA Public Assistance?  Public Assistance is a reimbursement program that provides federal funding to help communities respond to and recover from disasters such as Hurricane Florence and Tropical Storm Michael.  FEMA reimburses state and local governments and certain types of private nonprofit organizations for the cost of disaster-related debris removal, emergency protective measures…