FEMA Assistance Available
for Water Issues Caused by Winter Storm Uri
Water system maintenance should be a concern 24/7/365, but there are a few periods throughout the year when providers can, somewhat, coast on auto-pilot. Ordinarily, that time is now. But these are not ordinary times. Due to the epic freezing from the previous historic winter storm, FEMA Assistance is now available.
Help is on the Way!
Need immediate assistance with water loss and leak detection? Fill out our online form to find out how SAMCO can help you with water loss, system assessments, and more! SAMCO wants to help you apply for relief. Or, to finance your next project, we can point you toward the funding you need. We can also guide you through the grant process.
The deadline to submit a Request for Public Assistance to FEMA is March 21, 2021. If you need help navigating the process, we can connect you with resources to ensure your community doesn’t miss out on this valuable assistance.
Texans are now dealing with catastrophic water system damage caused by several days of nearly sub-freezing weather conditions. The winter storm knocked out water for millions of customers and when the ice melted and service was restored, providers were left with infrastructure damages far beyond the scope of what’s normal. The Dallas Morning News says the winter blast was possibly the costliest extreme weather event in the state’s history and “could bring more insurance claims than the $19 billion from Hurricane Harvey.”
On February 19th, a Major Disaster Declaration from the federal government was granted, making FEMA Public Assistance Category B disaster relief available to all 254 Texas counties.
Source: https://gis.fema.gov/maps/dec_4586.pdf
The federal declaration makes detection of major system leaks and emergency damage repairs eligible for reimbursement. While the federal cost share is 75%, communities may use donated items and force account labor to offset their 25% local cost share responsibility. The declaration will also make future funding available through multiple federal programs, including Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery.
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Sources
Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/business/2021/02/18/this-years-winter-storm-could-become-the-costliest-weather-event-in-texas-history/
White House press release: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/02/20/biden-signs-major-disaster-declaration-for-77-texas-counties-but-abbott-asked-for-all-254/
