Five months after Hurricane Ike smashed into the upper TexasGulf Coast, recovery efforts are still underway. The FederalEmergency Management Agency (FEMA), the State of Texas, and otherfederal and local entities continue to work together to repair themassive destruction the storm left in its wake.

This arduous undertaking is not cheap. The current tally forfederal and state assistance to help Texans recover from HurricaneIke has surpassed $1.5 billion. In conjunction with the TexasGovernor's Division of Emergency Management, FEMA has provided asummary of assistance approved as of February 5, 2009:

Nearly $488 million has been approved for Texans' recoveryefforts. This allotment will be used for disaster assistance forhousing, disaster-related needs, and disaster unemploymentassistance. In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration(SBA) has approved more than $552 million in low-interest disasterloans for homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes. Anoverview of other recovery funding is listed below:

?More than $77 million has been billed for short-term,transitional sheltering in hotels/motels for eligible applicants.Some 3,600 eligible individuals and families are stillparticipating in the program.

?To date, more than $394 million in public assistance fundinghas been obligated and sent to the state of Texas for local publicinfrastructure repair and debris removal costs.

?FEMA has provided temporary manufactured housing for more than3,400 applicants or 94 percent of the 3,600 applicants eligible fordirect housing assistance.

?Nearly 6,000 Texans are in temporary housing under the U. S.Disaster Housing Assistance Program, which is funded by FEMA andadministered by the U. S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment.

?More than 20 million cubic yards or 94 percent of eligibledebris has been cleared from disaster-affected counties.

?There are nine FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers open inaffected counties, offering face-to-face assistance. Nearly 152,000visits have been made to the centers.

Source: www.fema.gov

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