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Federal assistance funds requested for Dolly victims
By Teresa Mioli
Daily Texan,   U. Texas
August 04, 2008

Texas governor Rick Perry will continue to request expedited public assistance from the federal government to help South Texans affected by Hurricane Dolly.

Perry issued his latest appeal to the president last week and requested that he waive assessment requirements and speed up public and individual assistance in South Texas.

After a recommendation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, President Bush approved federal funds Thursday for individual Texans without homeowner's insurance whose properties were damaged by Hurricane Dolly.

Bush has still not approved the release of funds for public facilities or infrastructure damaged by the storm, which made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane.

Krista Piferrer, spokeswoman for the governor's office, said President Bush has not provided the governor with a reason for not releasing public assistance funding.

Bush issued a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration for South Texas on July 24, releasing federal funds for public emergency protective and response measures in 15 counties.

Perry initially asked for individual assistance in his request for the presidential declaration. Individual assistance would provide alternative housing, unemployment assistance, crisis counseling and small business administration disaster loans. He also requested public assistance.

The federal government immediately released funds for emergency protective measures only, which fall under public assistance. Funds for individual and additional public assistance were stalled pending joint state and federal damage assessments by FEMA, according to a July 24 statement from the governor's office.

Dean Cushman, spokesman for FEMA, said Bush designated assistance Thursday to individuals in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties and also approved funds for debris cleanup in roadways and waterways.

Cushman declined to give a cost estimate for home damages because of varying individual needs.

Copyright ©2008 Daily Texan via UWire



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