FEMA Funds City of Houston Flood Protection

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has obligated more than $2.6 million to the State of Texas for flood protection measures at three City of Houston administration and communications buildings. The projects will flood-proof buildings and elevate critical emergency generators and switchgear flooded by Tropical Storm Allison to above the 500-year flood level.

“The flood protection projects will save money and keep critical city facilities operating when floods threaten Houston again,” said Michael Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. “We encourage homeowners, businesses and other institutions to prepare for and protect against the risks they face.”

FEMA provides 75 percent of eligible project costs and the remaining 25 percent comes from local resources. Where feasible, recovery efforts incorporate mitigation measures to help protect against possible future flooding.

The federal funds are made available under the FEMA Public Assistance Program. The State of Texas administers the program under which eligible disaster-related costs are reimbursed to government units and certain non-profit organizations providing essential government-like services in the areas of emergency protective measures, debris removal and restoration of public facilities.