I have discussed FEMA’s commitment to helping Texans and Texas communities recover from the disaster. This week I want to address our role as it relates to the natural environment and its creatures. In the Alex recovery effort, one of our many environmental concerns is the plants and animals protected under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

One of our goals in the Hurricane Alex recovery effort is to avoid or minimize adverse impacts on the environment when we approve projects for federal funds or take any other action that might adversely affect our natural surroundings. More specifically, it is our duty under the ESA to avoid spending taxpayer dollars on rebuilding and other recovery projects that might jeopardize the existence of endangered or threatened species, or that might destroy or harm critical habitats.