TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE
Community Development & Revitalization
CDBG-DR
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"We work to rebuild communities, to put Texans back
in their homes, and to help businesses recover
after the trauma of disaster."
George P. Bush, Commissioner
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Friday, April 26, 2019
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS:
- OP-ED: Updated Building Codes Will Make Texas More Resilient
- GLO Housing Programs
- OP-ED: Pre-Positioned Contracts Save Time, Speed Recovery After Disasters
- Be Prepared for Spring Flood Season
- GLO Local Government Allocations
- $4.3 Billion Award to Texas for Harvey and 2015/2016 Flood Mitigation
- Save This Weekend With Emergency Supplies Sales Tax Holiday
- Other GLO CDBG-DR Programs
- Engage on Social Media
- Get to Know Your Outreach Coordinator: Shannon Longoria
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OP-ED FROM CMR. GEORGE P BUSH:
UPDATED BUILDING CODES WILL MAKE TEXAS MORE RESILIENT
Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes construction. From the towering high-rises going up in our cities to the growth of residential housing across the state, building is one of our strongest businesses. In recent years, the construction industry has contributed $91.2 billion to our powerhouse economy and accounted for more than 726,000 jobs. And this will only continue to increase as our population grows by a thousand new Texans every day.
Since Hurricane Harvey, Texas builders have been a major part of the recovery effort, readily assisting with public outreach, charity and rebuilding. Harvey’s winds were brutal in the Coastal Bend, and the 27 trillion gallons of rainfall flooded countless homes in and near Houston and across southeast Texas. We heard from thousands of families displaced by tragic flooding. It was devastating, but seeing construction trucks and loads of drywall heading to homesites gave us hope.
Now we must turn to the future and think about what we can do to protect our homes from this happening again. The indisputable fact remains that Texas is — and will continue to be — at a high risk for natural disasters, particularly hurricanes and floods. It is not a matter of if Texas will be devastated by another hurricane. It is a matter of when.
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GLO HOUSING PROGRAMS
(EXCLUDING HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY)
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Homeowner Assistance Program
$1.334 Billion
SUMMARY:
State-administered repair program to rehabilitate or reconstruct homes damage by Hurricane Harvey.
THIS PROGRAM SERVES:
Texas homeowners with remaining Harvey Damage Repairs needs.
Total Applicants:
8486
- Central/Golden Crescent Region = 602
- Coastal Bend Region = 1270
- Deep East Texas Region = 643
- HGAC - East/Gulf Coast Region = 2274
- HGAC - West/Lower Colorado Region = 836
- South East Texas Region = 2861
*Please Note:
Numbers as of April 19, 2019
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Homeowner Reimbursement Program
$100 Million
SUMMARY: State-administered reimbursement program for homeowners who used their personal savings or incurred personal debt to repair their homes that were damaged by Hurricane Harvey.
THIS PROGRAM SERVES: Texas Homeowners who have conducted repairs to their homes may be eligible for reimbursement funds.
Total Applicants:
3531
- Central/Golden Crescent Region = 139
- Coastal Bend Region = 253
- Deep East Texas Region = 30
- HGAC - East/Gulf Coast Region = 881
- HGAC - West/Lower Colorado Region = 872
- South East Texas Region = 1356
*Please Note:
Numbers as of April 19, 2019
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OP-ED FROM CMR. GEORGE P BUSH:
PRE-POSITIONED CONTRACTS SAVE TIME, SPEED RECOVERY AFTER DISASTERS:
"After the dust started to settle, I published a post-Hurricane Harvey report detailing what we learned from being the first state agency to participate in the process and outlining recommendations for improving future recovery efforts.
My GLO team and I recognize the importance of following procedures to safeguard federal funds, but also understand that bureaucracy is an obstruction in a crisis. Red tape and bureaucracy shackle FEMA’s emergency response system and is a disservice to disaster survivors.
I have advocated to federal leaders that this process would be greatly streamlined if FEMA’s temporary housing mission was implemented through a direct block grant to states. Testifying before Congress in March 2018, FEMA’s then-Administrator Brock Long agreed stating, “FEMA should be a block grant agency.'"
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TEXANS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR SPRING FLOOD SEASON:
Spread the word — the time to buy flood insurance is now. Recently the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its
2019 Spring Flood Outlook
and officials predict that nearly two-thirds of the nation will receive above-average rainfall.
This increased flood risk comes as heavy rains inundate portions of the Midwest and melting snow in the Northeast flows downstream through river basins. In Texas, weather maps point to East Texas and North Texas as having a more than 50% chance of moderate or minor flooding between March and May.
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GLO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATIONS
(EXCLUDING HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY)
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Local Infrastructure
$413 Million
SUMMARY: Funds local government projects to repair local infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Harvey. Can be used to match FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) infrastructure projects funds.
THIS PROGRAM SERVES: City and County Governments identified by the US Department of Housing and Urban development with Hurricane Harvey damage to local infrastructure.
Original Application Deadline was
January 31st, 2019
- Number of Eligible Cities and Counties = 275
- Application Deadline Extension Requests Received = 243
- Cities and Counties that have declined funding = 17
- Applications Received by the GLO = 5
*Please Note:
Numbers as of April 23, 2019
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Local Buyouts and Acquisitions
$275 Million
SUMMARY: Funds local government projects applications to buyout or acquire homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey. Can be used to match FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGO) buyout project funds.
THIS PROGRAM SERVES: City and County governments identified by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development with real property buyout or acquisition needs.
Original Application Deadline was
January 31st, 2019
- Number of Eligible Cities and Counties = 275
- Application Deadline Extension Requests Received = 243
- Cities and Counties that have declined funding = 14
- Applications Received by the GLO = 5
*Please Note:
Numbers as of April 23, 2019
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UPCOMING $4.38 MILLION IN MITIGATION FUNDS TOWARDS HARVEY AND 2015/2016:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded Texas $4.3 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds for mitigation activities related to the 2015 and 2016 Floods and Hurricane Harvey. HUD’s rules detailing program requirements will be published in a Federal Register in the coming weeks. Since 2015, 140 Texas counties have received a Presidential disaster declaration. The GLO is currently working to develop the HUD-required mitigation State Action Plan. A critical component of this plan involves stakeholder input.
Local governments eligible for the mitigation funding will include eligible presidentially declared disasters counties for the 2015 flooding events, the 2016 flooding events, and Hurricane Harvey.
Mitigation Survey:
Upcoming Workshops:
The GLO Community Development and Revitalization Policy Development team is conducting workshops across the impact area to receive input towards the Mitigation Action Plan. Below are dates and times for upcoming workshops.
AACOG:
4/24/19 @ 12 P.M.
8700 Tesoro Dr, San Antonio, TX 78217
GCRPC:
4/24/19 @ 4 P.M.
1908 N Laurent St, Victoria, TX 77901
DETCOG:
4/25/19 @ 1:30 P.M.
210 Premier Dr, Jasper, TX 75951
CBCOG:
4/26/19 @ 1 P.M.
2910 Leopard St, Corpus Christi, TX 78408
CAPCOG:
5/1/19 @ 10 A.M.
6800 Burleson Rd, Building 310, Austin, TX 78744
BVCOG:
5/8/19 @ 1 P.M.
3991 E 29th St, Bryan, TX 77802
SETRPC:
5/15/19 @ 1:15 P.M.
2210 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, Texas 77703
HGAC:
TBD
3555 Timmons Ln #100, Houston, TX 77027
CTCOG:
TBD
2180 N Main St, Belton, TX 76513
For more information
CLICK HERE
for the mitigation web page and
HERE
for mitigation summary
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TEXANS SAVE THIS WEEKEND WITH EMERGENCY PREPARATION SUPPLIES SALES TAX HOLIDAY
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is encouraging Texans to take advantage of the Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday this weekend to be ready in case a natural disaster strikes such as hurricanes, storms, flooding, wildfires and tornadoes. This year's holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 29.
"Texans know a major factor in recovering from a natural disaster is to be prepared," said Commissioner Bush. "This weekend Texas is waiving the sales tax on many items you may need when disaster strikes such as batteries, hurricane shutters, generators, smoke detectors, fuel containers, and more. Now is a great time to save while stocking up on supplies you may need for the upcoming hurricane season and to gather any items you need to complete your emergency kit."
The 2019 Hurricane Season officially starts June 1st.
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OTHER GLO CDBG-DR PROGRAMS
(EXCLUDING HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY)
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Affordable Multi-Family Rental Program
$450 Million
SUMMARY: State-administered repair program that took applications from rental property owners for properties damaged by Hurricane Harvey to rehabilitate, reconstruct or newly construct affordable rental housing.
THIS PROGRAM SERVES: Local rental property owners that own and rent out at least 8 unites whom experienced damage from Hurricane Harvey.
Application period closed on
October 21st, 2018
- Number of Applications processed for construction = 41 (out of 45)
- Number of units to be repaired with the 41 applications being processed currently = 2,370
*Please Note:
Numbers as of April 23, 2019
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Economic Revitalization Program
$100 Million
SUMMARY: State-administered revitalization program that will take applications from local small business impacted by Hurricane Harvey and administer deferred forgivable loans for job creation or retention activities.
THIS PROGRAM SERVES: Local small business that experienced economic losses and damage from Hurricane Harvey.
The
GLO seeks to begin taking applications by
June 2019
- Create or maintain jobs for LMI individuals for at least three years
- Upon accomplishing the program requirements, the deferred forgivable loan may be forgiven
*Please Note:
Numbers as of April 23, 2019
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GET TO KNOW YOUR
COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR:
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Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, and Victoria counties
As your day-to-day contact for disaster recovery housing needs, Outreach Coordinators are here to serve you and your community. Their commitment to helping Texans repair their homes and rebuild their lives goes beyond the mission of the GLO. For them, it is personal.
Outreach Coordinators live and work in the areas they serve, and so do their families. Some coordinators lost homes or vehicles in Hurricane Harvey. Others watched as the communities they grew up in were inundated by the rains. Each newsletter we will feature one coordinator whose story you may or may not know.
Shannon Longoria joined the GLO in January as an Outreach Coordinator for the Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission (GCRPC) Council of Government (COG) region. Born and raised in Victoria, Shannon has remained close to her roots and is now raising her children in the community that she loves.
“Finding solutions to help people access the help they need to live in a safe home as a disaster survivor is the most rewarding part of my day,” she said.
Shannon is committed to helping in any capacity until the community she holds dear is fully recovered.
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Department of Homeland Security
Disaster Preparedness
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FEMA Disaster Preparedness
(voice, 711/VRS-Video Relay Service)
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Department of Housing and
Urban Development
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Texas Division of Emergency
Management
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National Flood Insurance
Program Flood
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Texas Department of
Insurance
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Small Business
Administration
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DISASTER RECOVERY RESOURCES:
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Survivors May Register in
Many Ways:
• (TTY:
800-462-7585
). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).
• Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). Find the location of nearby DRCs online at
www.fema.gov/DRC
.
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Find Resources on
Social Media:
FEMA – Hurricane Harvey:
Twitter: @FEMARegion6
Twitter: @RebuildTXtoday
Texas General Land Office:
Twitter: @txglo
Instagram: @glotx
Download A Copy of The Hurricane Harvey Recovery Guide:
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Important Contacts:
Federal Agencies:
FEMA Fraud Hotline:
(800) 323-8603
Internal Revenue Service:
(800) 829-1040, TTY (800) 829-4059
Social Security Administration:
(800) 772-1213
Department of Veterans Affairs:
(800) 827-1000
State Agencies:
Texas General Land Office:
(844) 893-8937; or (512) 475-5000
Consumer Protection Help Line:
(800) 621-0508
Texas Windstorm Insurance Assoc. & Texas FAIR Plan:
(877) 281-1431 or Spanish: (866) 443-3144
Texas Dept. of Insurance Consumer Help Line:
(800) 252-3439
Shelter, Food, and Disaster Services:
2-1-1
Education Hotline for Houston, Beaumont and Victoria areas:
(512) 463-9603
Governor Abbott's Information Hotline:
(800) 843-5789
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(512) 475-5000
Texas General Land Office
P.O. Box 12873
Austin, Texas 78711-2873
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