Criminal Justice/Public Safety: 
 
 
With the damage caused by Hurricane Rita and the overwhelming number of out-of-state evacuees from Hurricane Katrina, many city and county police departments provided countless hours of service to protect the State of Texas and its citizens. Services included providing additional security to shelters and local communities, and overseeing traffic control during the evacuations.   
 
FEMA has obligated funding in the amount of $9.4 million to reimburse the City of Houston Police Department for increased police activity at shelters and apartment complexes as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Around the state, the total FEMA obligation (paid to the state) is approximately $20 million for such public safety activities. 
 
Hurricane Rita inflicted physical damage to many parts of Southeast Texas, including the State prison systems. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) had severe damage to multiple buildings at the Beaumont facility location following Hurricane Rita, including the buildings for prison housing. This meant undamaged buildings had to be repurposed for temporary housing until TDCJ could begin construction.  TDCJ has received more than one million dollars to replace roofs, chiller units and fix building damage sustained during Hurricane Rita.  With FEMA’s Public Assistance program providing reimbursement assistance, TDCJ was able to recover from the impact of Hurricane Rita and maintain secure building facilities once again.