Commission to Rebuild Texas After Hurricane Harvey Update: Issue 22

AUSTIN, Texas, April 27 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release:

"Though Hurricane Harvey was the worst of storms, it brought out the best in the people of Texas. In each community, so many lives were saved because of the courage and leadership of local officials and the efforts of our incredible first responders. These CDBG funds will help give communities the resources they need to continue recovering, and I thank HUD Secretary Ben Carson, as well as all of our federal partners, for their ongoing support throughout this process."

Governor Greg Abbott, with HUD Secretary Ben Carson in Houston

Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas

* Governor Abbott encourages all Texans to take advantage of the tax-free holiday for emergency preparation supplies beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Sat., April 28, and ending at midnight on Mon., April 30: "Being prepared is now more important than ever. Emergency supplies proved essential in helping Texas families respond and protect themselves when Harvey made landfall, and I want to ensure all Texans have what they need when the next disaster strikes." There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased.

* Governor Abbott sent a letter to Mayors, County Judges and Emergency Management officials in communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey, urging them to take immediate advantage of the $500 million in funds from FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program that are available now.

* Governor Abbott issued a proclamation ordering an emergency special election to elect a U.S. Representative for Texas Congressional District 27 to serve out the current unexpired term. The emergency special election will be held on Sat., June 30, 2018. "Hurricane relief efforts depend heavily on action at the federal level, which can only occur if Texans residing in disaster zones have full and effective representation in Congress. I remain committed to ensuring that the 27th Congressional District is fully represented as the recovery process continues."

* Governor Abbott joined HUD Secretary Ben Carson, Senator Ted Cruz, Congressman John Culberson and local officials in Houston to discuss the $5 billion recently allocated to Texas through HUD's Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program for the rebuilding of housing, businesses and infrastructure following Hurricane Harvey and previous flood events. This allocation is in addition to the $5 billion in CDBG funding previously awarded to Texas. Local Texas officials can now implement a disaster recovery plan to identify their communities' needs.

* Governor Abbott again extended the State Disaster Declaration for Texas counties affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Individual Assistance

* Governor Abbott announced that FEMA granted Texas' request to extend the deadline for Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) for Hurricane Harvey survivors. The TSA deadline has been extended to May 31, 2018, with a check-out date of June 1, 2018. Individuals with questions regarding their Transitional Sheltering Assistance program eligibility or status may contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for assistance.

* Current individual assistance numbers are now posted on rebuildtexas.today/recovery-tracker. To find the nearest Disaster Recovery Center visit fema.gov/drc, or text DRC along with a zip code to 43362 (4FEMA).FEMA's Disaster Distress Helpline offers trained professionals who can help callers cope with anxiety or stress, and guide them to available resources. This toll-free, multilingual and confidential crisis support service is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 800-985-5990, 800-846-8517 (TTY) or text TalkWithUs (Spanish-speakers text: Hablanos) to 66746.

Housing

* Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced the comment period for the State Action Plan has been extended to May 1. The Plan is for $5 Billion in Hurricane Harvey housing, infrastructure and economic recovery funding. Review the Action Plan and comment. < >More than 14,000 Texas homes have now received repairs through the Partial Repair and Essential Power for Sheltering (PREPS) program. The GLO and FEMA are committed to helping Texans on the road to full recovery.As hurricane seasons again nears, FEMA reminds residents that Manufactured Housing Units (MHUs) are designed to be exceptionally safe and secure, but all forms of housing are at risk for damage in severe weather. Never take shelter in an MHU during high winds, a tornado, a hurricane or a flood. Stay alert to weather warnings, and always follow the guidance of local officials including evacuation orders. If your MHU is damaged due to severe weather, contact the maintenance number provided when licensed in the unit.

* Reminder: Flood insurance must be maintained to qualify for federal assistance in the future. NFIP policyholders with questions may call 800-621-3362, Mon. to Sat., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For information, visit FloodSmart.gov.

* Current housing numbers are now posted on rebuildtexas.today/recovery-tracker.

* TexasRebuilds.com is the housing information resource for individuals and communities.

* Follow Twitter.com/TXGLO for pictures of move-in days and updates on housing recovery.