Department of Labor Grants Texas $15.9 Million to Aid in Hurricane Ike Recovery

The Department of Labor has awarded a $15.9 million National Emergency Grant to Texas for humanitarian efforts, cleanup and recovery work related to Hurricane Ike. Ike hit the Galveston, TX, shoreline on September 13th and continued on a path through eastern Texas. Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, TX) reports that, according to risk-modeling experts at Eqecat Incorporated (Oakland, CA), the total damage from Ike ranges between $8 billion and $12 billion in onshore insured losses for both residential and commercials properties.

National Emergency Grants exist to expand service capacity of the Department of Labor at the state and local levels by awarding limited-time funding after significant dislocation events. Weather-related events can qualify if they create a sudden need for assistance and are deemed eligible by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). National Emergency Grants are discretionary funds awarded by Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao.

Funds will funnel into two major spending categories: humanitarian assistance and temporary employment projects. FEMA declared 29 Texas counties eligible for the critical-aid projects providing shelter, food, water and clothing, as well as work on individual residences prioritized by those occupied by the elderly or people with disabilities. Grant money allocated for work projects will be handled by the Texas Workforce Commission. Recovery projects will temporarily employ approximately 600 displaced workers for the demolition, cleanup, repair, renovation and reconstruction of public structures, facilities and land affected by the hurricane. "This $15.9 million National Emergency Grant will put several hundred Texans to work helping communities recover from Hurricane Ike damage," Chao said.