Feds Approve Texas' Request for West Recovery
The West community will receive additional federal funding to rebuild following the explosion of a fertilizer depot in April that killed 15 people and flattened much of the town, Gov. Rick Perry announced on Friday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency provided millions of dollars in aid immediately after the explosion, but the agency initially rejected the state’s request for additional financial assistance. The state’s appeal, submitted in early June, has now been approved, and President Obama has signed a major disaster declaration for the area, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts.
“This, along with the disaster relief funding provided by the Texas Legislature, will help this community rebuild their infrastructure, school district and public works as quickly as possible,” Perry said in a press release.
During the regular legislative session, the lawmakers also appropriated $15 million to the governor’s office for disaster recovery for communities like West and Bastrop, which battled a devastating 32,000-acre brush fire in 2011.
Following the approval of the state's appeal, it was announced that $3.2 million of the Legislature's disaster recovery funds will be appropriated to West.
Source: http://www.texastribune.org/2013/08/02/feds-approve-texas-request-west-recovery/
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