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FEMA REPORTS TIMELY REIMBURSEMENT TO TEXAS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FUNDS

AUSTIN, Texas - Recent media reports indicating federal bureaucracy is slowing the payment of emergency response costs are misleading and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers the following information - For the Record:

The FEMA Public Assistance program is a reimbursement program. Contracts for emergency response services are between the state of Texas and its vendors. It is the responsibility of the state of Texas to pay its vendors and that payment should not be dependent on a pending reimbursement.

Requests for reimbursements continue to be received and are being processed daily. Reimbursements are provided typically within 7 days of receipt of documentation.

More than $387 million in Public Assistance funding has been approved and sent to the state of Texas. This amount includes reimbursements for emergency protective services, such as payments to bus companies, shelters, fuel, rental equipment, staging area costs, and water for evacuation activities; eligible debris removal, which is already more than 94 percent complete; and other public assistance funding.

It is unfortunate that a state representative chose to provide information in a public forum rather than speak directly to its federal partner in the recovery, at the Joint Field Office, which is also staffed with the Governor's assigned disaster recovery officials.  More than 1,700 federal disaster workers are serving the state of Texas at the Governor's request and are fully engaged in the recovery of the impacted communities and Texans.

FEMA is interested in learning the details of a reported $134 million in Ike costs and the "$120 million," which the media attributed to a state spokesperson claiming it is the responsibility of the federal government.

As long as the costs are eligible, documented and approved, FEMA will reimburse it.  The state is encouraged to forward all necessary documentation as soon as possible to ensure a quick turn around of funding.  More information on FEMA's transparent accomplishments in Public Assistance can be found at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/hazard/hurricane/2008/ike/pa_update_0131.pdf

Last Modified: Wednesday, 11-Aug-2010 14:46:59 EDT