Harvey Update: Gov. Abbott Says $500 Million Ready For Houston

HOUSTON, TX — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday afternoon that cities like Houston and other areas hit hard by Hurricane Harvey can now apply for more than $1 billion in federal funds. The governor said such funds are to help prevent or lessen damage from future storms.

Abbott went on to say cities and counties can use the funds to pay for a myriad of projects, including buyouts of homes and elevation upgrades of homes, seawalls and large-scale channeling of waterways.

"I want to reassure every single Texan that's impacted by Harvey, that we will never let up until your homes and businesses are restored, until your communities are fully protected from future potential storm damage," Abbott said alongside Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner at a luncheon Tuesday in Rockport.

Abbott said $500 million is available for immediate disbursement from FEMA once communities apply, and the governor encourages everyone to apply sooner than later.

"This isn't one of those things where, 'Gosh, we're finally going to rebuild once we get the money,'" Abbott said. "The money is here. Checks can be cut immediately as soon as you get your applications in and get them approved."

Hurricane Harvey slammed Rockport and other areas of the Coastal Bend as a powerful Category 4 storm on Aug. 5, leveling many of the small communities. Harvey weakened to a Cat 2 before moving over Houston and meandering more than two days. It moved back into the Gulf of Mexico and drifted east and pummeled the Golden Triangle.

Harvey dumped more than 60 inches of rain in some parts of Houston and the Beaumont area, and it's $125 billion worth of damage is the most-ever in Texas — second in the nation's history only to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Harvey was responsible for 68 deaths in addition to structural and flood damage.

The federal government generally funds 75 percent of similar such mitigation projects, but Abbott said the federal government has agreed to pay for 100 percent in this case. In Harvey's aftermath, officials in Harris County have considered a bond proposal election that would ask voters to approve at least $1 billion to aid in projects to fix the flooding problem.

Last Friday when the federal government voted on a budget deal to reopen the government, it pledged $120 billion in disaster relief for hurricane-stricken places last fall like Texas (Hurricane Harvey), Florida (Irma) and Puerto Rico (Maria).

.@GregAbbott_TX: "$5 billion in CDBG funds will be arriving. As of today, FEMA estimates that Texas will be eligible in more than $1 billion in hazard mitigation funds. $500 million will be ready to be disbursed now."

— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) February" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/SylvesterT... 13, 2018

Photo courtesy of City of Houston