labor lawAdivision of labor law center

On September 24, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a grant of more than $15 million to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Of the total grant, $7.9 million will be released initially. The balance will be released as the state demonstrates a continued need for disaster assistance.

 

“This $15.9 million National Emergency Grant  will put several hundred Texans to work helping communities recover from Hurricane Ike damage,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “This grant will also fund humanitarian assistance such as food, clothing, shelter and other critical aid that Texans affected by the hurricane devastation are in need of.”

 

The grant, totaling $15,883,200 will be used to create approximately 600 temporary jobs to assist in Hurricane Ike cleanup and recovery efforts.  In addition, funds from the grant will provide unemployment benefits for workers who are displaced by the natural disaster.

 

Hurricane Ike was a level 3 hurricane when it struck the Gulf Coast on September 3, 2008. Although the hurricane affected several states, a Texas corridor from Galveston to Houston took the brunt of the storm’s destructive force.

 

On Sept. 13, the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA declared 29 counties in Texas eligible for its Public Assistance Program, including:

• Angelina
• Austin
• Brazoria
• Chambers
• Cherokee
• Fort Bend
• Galveston
• Grimes
• Hardin
• Harris
• Houston
• Jasper
• Jefferson
• Liberty
• Madison
• Matagorda
• Montgomery
• Nacogdoches
• Newton
• Orange
• Polk
• Sabine
• San Augustine
• San Jacinto
• Trinity
• Tyler
• Walker
• Waller
• Washington.

 

The grant is awarded to the Texas Workforce Commission and will be used to provide temporary employment on projects for the cleanup, demolition, repair, renovation and reconstruction of destroyed public structures, facilities and lands within the affected communities.

 

The federal funds also will be used for projects that provide food, clothing, shelter and other types of humanitarian assistance, including work on the homes of individuals eligible for the federally funded weatherization program with priority assigned to the elderly and individuals with disabilities.

 

 

 

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