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GLO Disaster Recovery
Intergovernmental and Community Relations Monthly Newsletter
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 Katy City Administrator Byron Hebert accepts an award from Texas GLO Commissioner Dawn Buckingham (right) on Tuesday, June 20th for a road mitigation project. The Texas GLO has approved a $1.13 million mitigation project in Katy, aimed at improving water supply and fire protection in areas on and near Danover Road, funded through its regional mitigation program.
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"“We often like to say that we are the agency that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work for the people of Texas, and when it comes to disaster recovery, the GLO is the place to go."
- Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D.
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Monday, June 26, 2023
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS:
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Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announces approval of more than $128 Million in Regional Mitigation Program projects
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Under Commissioner Buckingham’s New Plan, Houston and Harris County Achieving Success with Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Funding
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Josephine’s Salons + Spa suffered major damage from Hurricane Harvey. Thanks to the @TXGLO’s Texas Back in Business program, they were able to receive assistance
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Moroles Art Company suffered major damage from Hurricane Harvey. Thanks to the TX GLO's Texas Back in Business program, they were able to receive assistance
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The TX GLO is rebuilding Houston. Thousands of Houston homeowners have received assistance, and we are so excited to continue rebuilding and getting Texans back on their feet!
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Beat the heat, Texas! Prepare for extreme heat by knowing the signs of heat-related illnesses
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Commissioner Dawn Buckingham encourages Texans to prepare pets, livestock for natural disasters. June is National Pet Preparedness Month
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Commissioner Dawn Buckingham to all Texans: Hurricane Season 2023 Begins June 1
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Sign up for the GLO Disaster Recovery Mailing List
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By the Numbers: Hurricane Harvey Recovery Programs
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Disaster Recovery Resources
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COMMISSIONER DAWN BUCKINGHAM ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF MORE THAN $128 MILLION IN REGIONAL MITIGATION PROGRAM PROJECTS
Funds to improve street, water and drainage facilities approved in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Nueces, Polk, San Jacinto, and Waller Counties
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., announced the Texas General Land Office (GLO) approved $128,208,664 in regional mitigation funds for 19 federally eligible infrastructure projects to improve streets as well as water and drainage facilities in the cities of Aransas Pass, Coldspring, Corrigan, Dayton, Freeport, Hitchcock, Iowa Colony, Katy, La Marque, Palacios, Pearland, Richwood, Rosenberg, Shepherd, Texas City, and the counties of Jefferson, Liberty, and Waller. Through the Regional Mitigation Program, the GLO enabled local prioritization, which will have a tremendous impact across multiple regions.
“Locally-led prioritization of mitigation projects is important because it strengthens critical infrastructure and protects communities against the impacts of natural disasters,” Commissioner Buckingham said. “At the Texas General Land Office, we are not only helping those in need, but also supporting our communities as they grow.”
 
Texas GLO Regional Mitigation Program Council of Government Method of Distribution (COG MOD):
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) allocated $1,166,997,000 in Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Regional Mitigation Program to reduce the risks and impacts of future natural disasters. Each Council of Government (COG) with HUD-designated eligible counties developed a method of distribution (MOD) for allocation of funds to units of local governments. Each COG developed their MOD through extensive public participation.
HUD defines mitigation as activities that increase resilience to disasters and reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of loss of life, injury, damage to and loss of property, and suffering and hardship, by lessening the impact of future disasters. HUD requires that at least 50% of total funds must be used for activities benefiting low- to moderate-income (LMI) persons. For more information, please visit recovery.texas.gov/mitigation.
UNDER COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM’S NEW PLAN, HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY ACHIEVING SUCCESS WITH DISASTER RECOVERY AND MITIGATION FUNDING
For the first time, both are on track to meet program benchmarks, infrastructure and mitigation funding see major milestones achieved with “New Dawn of Cooperation”
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. announced, for the first time since Hurricane Harvey, under a new cooperative plan spearheaded by the Texas General Land Office (GLO), both Harris County and the City of Houston are on track to meet their program benchmarks with Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. Additionally, Harris County recently approved their method of distribution (MOD) for $750 million in Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds from the GLO, of which $500 million in projects were identified and approved by Commissioners’ Court and submitted another for $322,033,863 in flood and drainage projects allocated by the GLO to the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD).
“My commitment remains steadfast, to serve the people we are meant to serve and do it well,” said Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. “This success is proof of my commitment to ensuring more than $3 billion dollars in funding is put to work to benefit the people who call Harris County and the City of Houston home.”
Both Harris County and Houston have semiannual expenditure benchmarks in their CDBG-DR funding contracts with the GLO, per HUD guidance. These milestones were set by the city and county and approved by the GLO to ensure all programs will be completed as timely as possible.
On June 6, 2023, the Harris County Commissioner’s Court unanimously approved a list of projects for $322 million in CDBG-DR funds and up to $502.5 million in mitigation funds as well as authorized the HCFCD to take all necessary actions to expedite the administration of the funding. This development follows a robust commitment to cooperation, which was highlighted in March with a joint press conference with several county leaders and Commissioner Buckingham in Houston.
Commissioner Adrian Garcia introduced Item 115 to the court stating, “I want to give a shout out to the GLO and Commissioner Buckingham for her support of Harris County and giving us a degree of trust.” Commissioner Tom Ramsey noted the fairness of the plan noting that it worked out to about 25% for each precinct and stated, “job well done by the whole.” Commissioner Lesley Briones echoed the sense of gratitude to HCFCD Director, Dr. Tina Petersen, and to Commissioner Buckingham for working together stating, “This is so wonderful that we were able to hit reset and really focus on the progress going forward.” Video is available of Commissioner’s Court discussing the item (starts at 6:07:00). The full list of the projects is available in this article regarding the funding from ReduceFlooding.com.
“Thanks to open communications and focused cooperation, we are proud to see new success with disaster recovery, housing, infrastructure and mitigation funding,” said Dr. Buckingham. “The GLO is dedicated to helping Harris County and the City of Houston put these vital funds to good use.”
The GLO has also seen success in administering the Homeowner Assistance Program, which has helped nearly 2,200 Houstonians and Harris County residents get approved for home rebuilding assistance and has completed nearly 1,400 homes. Overall, the GLO has rebuilt more than 10,000 homes for homeowners and renters in Texas since Hurricane Harvey. Additionally, the GLO completed the state’s first Homeowner Reimbursement Program having reimbursed about 3,000 Texas families for approximately $86 million in out of pocket repairs.
   
COMMISSIONER DAWN BUCKINGHAM ENCOURAGES TEXANS TO PREPARE PETS, LIVESTOCK FOR NATURAL DISASTERS
JUNE IS NATIONAL PET PREPAREDNESS MONTH
In observance of National Pet Preparedness Month, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is encouraging Texans to include pets and livestock in their emergency plans and build a separate emergency kit for their animals. Hurricane season began June 1, and the Texas General Land Office (GLO) continues to remind coastal and inland Texans to know their risk, purchase flood insurance, protect their home, safeguard documents, and prepare emergency supplies and an evacuation route.
“Having evacuation plans and an emergency kit ready for your animals is one less thing you have to worry about when a storm is bearing down on your community,” Commissioner Buckingham said. “Knowing they’re prepared means you’ll have more time to protect your family and home. During hurricane season, every minute counts.”
The GLO encourages all Texans to prepare for hurricane season by preparing an evacuation “go bag” for their pets, including the following:
- Each pet should have enough food and water to last them at least 3-7 days. Don’t forget to change out their food every 2 days.
- If daily medication is required for your animal, be sure to have enough for at least two weeks and store them in an airtight container. In case of any injury to your pet, be sure to include a first-aid kit. Include the animal’s health and vaccinations record book with other documents.
- Bring copies of your animal's registration papers, adoption information, or other records for each pet. Include pictures of your pets individually with you. This will help reunite you if your pet gets lost during an evacuation.
- Make sure your pet is microchipped, which provides the best chance for efficient reunification if you get separated during a disaster.
- You can begin preparing your livestock and horses for a natural disaster by maintaining an inventory, making sure animals have some type of identification, and planning evacuation arrangements.
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Disasters can strike quickly. Due to our size and location, Texas is one of the most disaster-prone states with risks for hurricanes, tornados, floods, and fires. You may need to evacuate and be prepared to be gone from home for days or even weeks. Don’t ignore the risk. Protect your pets and be pet prepared.
To learn more, visit recovery.texas.gov/petprepared.
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COMMISSIONER DAWN BUCKINGHAM TO ALL TEXANS: HURRICANE SEASON 2023
BEGAN JUNE 1
DON'T IGNORE YOUR RISK, BE PREPARED AND STAY PREPARED
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is encouraging all Texans to prepare for the 2023 hurricane season, which begins Thursday, June 1 and runs through Thursday, November 30, 2023. Commissioner Buckingham and her Texas General Land Office team are working with coastal and inland communities to encourage all Texans to purchase flood insurance and take measures to protect their families and homes.
“Because of the GLO’s disaster recovery programs, Texas is better prepared for natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires,” Commissioner Buckingham said. “It’s important to remember that no federally funded assistance program is designed to make you whole after a disaster. It is up to you to plan properly, protect your home with wind and flood insurance, and safeguard your documents. The GLO is proud to help communities prepare and recover from natural disasters.”
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The GLO encourages all Texans to prepare for hurricane season by doing the following:
- Know Your Risk - Sign up for your community’s emergency warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
- Make Your Evacuation Plan - Check with local officials about updated evacuation shelters for this year. Know where your family will meet up if you are separated and where you will stay. Pack a “go bag” including items you need to take with you if you evacuate. A “go bag” should be easy to carry and kept in a place where you can grab it quickly. Check with drivetexas.org to find routes near you. To find a shelter near you, download the FEMA app at fema.gov/mobile-app.
- Gather Supplies - Plan for your entire household including children, people with disabilities or access/functional needs, and pets.
- Secure Documents - Remember to secure copies of important personal documents. Filing for government assistance requires documentation. Be sure to keep documents in a secure location and take them with you if you need to evacuate. Place these documents in a waterproof bag and back them up on cloud storage or a thumb drive.
- Protect Your Property - Shutter your home as needed, review your flood insurance policy (or sign up for one), and declutter drains and gutters. Most homeowner and renter insurance policies do not cover flood damage. A flood insurance policy generally does not take effect until 30 days after purchase, so be sure to maintain your policy. Take a video “tour” of your home to document all items and the home’s current condition.
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The Texas General Land Office continues to promote preparedness through “Don’t Ignore Your Risk,” a public outreach initiative to encourage Texans to be prepared and stay prepared for hurricane season. The multi-media, multi-platform public service announcement urges Texans to take time now to know their risk, purchase flood insurance, protect their home, safeguard documents, and prepare emergency supplies and an evacuation route. |
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For more disaster preparedness tips, Texans can follow the GLO on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Medium, Facebook, and YouTube), watch video preparedness tips, and find resources for family and pets at recovery.texas.gov/preparedness.
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SIGN UP FOR THE GLO DISASTER RECOVERY MAILING LIST
Click here to subscribe to our monthly IGR Newsletter for the latest updates from GLO's CDR division.
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HARVEY RECOVERY HOUSING PROGRAMS |
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(EXCLUDING HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY) |
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Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP)
$1.334 Billion
SUMMARY: State-administered repair program to rehabilitate or reconstruct homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey.
THIS PROGRAM SERVES: Texas homeowners with remaining Harvey Damage Repair needs.
Homes Completed: 5,624
*Please Note: Numbers as of
June 23, 2023
For more information CLICK HERE
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Homeowner Reimbursement Program (HRP) - COMPLETED
$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 SERVED: Texas homeowners who have conducted repairs to their homes.
Reimbursements Approved:
2,968 applicants for $86,136,050 total
*Please Note: Numbers as of
June 23, 2023
For more information CLICK HERE
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HARVEY RECOVERY COMMUNITY PROJECTS
(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 project funds.
THIS PROGRAM SERVES: City and County Governments in federally declared counties with Hurricane Harvey damage to local infrastructure.
*This program is fully contracted.
Contracts Executed: 152
*Please Note: Numbers as of
June 23, 2023
For more information CLICK HERE
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Local Buyouts and Acquisitions (LBAP)
$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 (HMGP) buyout project funds.
THIS PROGRAM SERVES: City and County governments in federally declared counties with real property buyout or acquisition needs.
*This program is fully contracted.
Contracts Executed: 47
*Please Note: Numbers as of
June 23, 2023
For more information CLICK HERE
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HARVEY RECOVERY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION PROJECTS
(EXCLUDING HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY)
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Affordable Multifamily Rental Program (ARP)
$586 Million
SUMMARY: State-administered program that took applications from rental property owners to rehabilitate, reconstruct or newly construct affordable rental housing lost during Hurricane Harvey.
THIS PROGRAM SERVES: Local rental property owners that own and rent out at least 8 units to replace units lost due to Hurricane Harvey.
Units are currently under construction.
*Please Note: Numbers as of
June 23, 2023
For more information CLICK HERE
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Economic Revitalization Program/TBIB (ERP)
$100 Million
SUMMARY: State-administered revitalization program that will provide financing to local small businesses impacted by Hurricane Harvey in deferred forgivable loans for job creation or retention of LMI employees.
THIS PROGRAM SERVES: Local small businesses that experienced economic losses and damage from Hurricane Harvey.
- Number of funds that have been awarded = $88,975,000
- Number of businesses served = 573
- Number of jobs supported = 1,840
*Please Note: Info as of June 23, 2023
For more information CLICK HERE
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Department of Homeland Security
Disaster Preparedness
Ready.gov
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DISASTER RECOVERY RESOURCES: |
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