FEMA Approves More Than $39 Million to Help Communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas

DENTON, Texas - FEMA announced the approval of more than $39 million in post-disaster funding for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas.

These programs empower states, local communities, tribes and territories to recover from disasters and to protect infrastructure from future events. With this funding, President Donald J. Trump is keeping his promise to reform federal disaster support and ensure that taxpayer money is spent only on projects that deliver safety and security to the American people.

Public Assistance

The funding approved today includes more than $30 million under FEMA's Public Assistance program awarded across Arkansas, New Mexico and Texas.

FEMA disburses this money to states and local communities because they are best positioned to know how these funds will be most effectively spent. The funded projects include repairs to critical infrastructure, restoration of public buildings, road repairs and reimbursement for costs incurred to ensure public health and safety after a disaster. Examples of projects include:

• More than $24 million to Texas for permanent repairs to Gulf Coast Water Authority because of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
• More than $2.6 million to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for permanent repairs from damage caused during the 2022 wildfires, flooding and mudflows.
• More than $170,000 to Arkansas for grant management funding for the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in 2024.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

FEMA is also awarding more than $8 million for projects in Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas that will prevent, eliminate or reduce future disaster-related damage.

This money is being distributed through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Through this program, state, local or territorial governments and Tribal Nations take proactive mitigation measures such as acquiring hazard-prone homes and businesses, adopting and enforcing building codes and standards, protecting against floods through elevations and drainage improvement projects, building safe rooms and upgrading utilities and infrastructure. Examples of projects include:

• More than $5 million to Louisiana for installing and managing generators for emergency backup in Iberia and St. John the Baptist parishes after damage during Hurricane Ida in 2021.
• More than $3.4 million to Texas for repairs and central plant generators at the Texas A&M University Campus - Corpus Christi and to fund a safe room in Delta County.
• More than $720,000 to New Mexico to fund generators and emergency work.

FEMA coordinates directly with the state on all hazard mitigation projects. This aligns with FEMA's principles of ensuring that disaster recovery and mitigation is state-led and federally supported.

These Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects are the latest examples of billions of dollars in disaster recovery provided by FEMA to support state and local communities as they work to rebuild from recent natural disasters. FEMA continues its renewed commitment to help communities recover from disasters like hurricanes, severe storms, tornadoes and wildfires while making them more resilient to future disasters.

Funding for these projects is administered through the Stafford Act; it is separate from Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire compensation in New Mexico.

About FEMA Region 6

The FEMA Region 6 office, located in Denton, Texas, partners with 68 Tribal Nations and the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Follow us at x.com/FEMARegion6 and at linkedin.com/showcase/fema-region-6/ and like us at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/