Congressman Gonzalez Announces Over $2 Million in FEMA Funding for Rehabilitation Project

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release:

Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) today announced $2,249,916 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in grant funding for a Westway Heights Drainage Project in McAllen, Texas.

Recently, after Texas' Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend suffered severe storms and flooding, President Donald J. Trump announced a Federal Disaster Declaration, DR-4377-FEMA, after multiple requests from Congressman Gonzalez and Governor Greg Abbott.

"I would like to thank the FEMA assessment teams for their efforts to help people in the Rio Grande Valley recover and rebuild," Congressman Gonzalez said. "This project is only the beginning in the reconstruction of our communities and a true effort to prevent future floods. I'll continue to work with FEMA, state officials, local officials and Hidalgo County to bring more federal dollars to South Texas."

This grant will fund the improvements to the Westway Heights. The project is located in the City of McAllen, Texas. It is generally bounded by West Fern Avenue to the north, Bicentennial Blvd to the east, La Vista Avenue to the south and North 23rd Street to the west. The proposed mitigation project will install storm sewer network systems and related appurtenance. The network will consist of high density polyethylene pipes (HDPE) that will convey stormwater to a detention facility that will also be built as part of the project. A 7ft x 4ft reinforced concrete box culvert will serve as the outfall from the sewer system into the detention pond.

The detention pond will impound and control excess flows prior to discharging it into Bicentennial drain ditch. Improvements and upgrades will also be made to the existing sewer systems (curb, gutter, inlets, pipes, valley gutters) to improve stormwater runoffs, flows and conveyance. Prior award 04/12/2017 for $353,000. This award is pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Section 404 and 44 CFR Part 206.434.

The congressman will continue to work with local, state, and federal officials to assure that this project is the first of many to rebuild South Texas.