HUD Awards $1.5B to Support Seven States’ 2018 Disaster Recovery

HUD recently awarded nearly $1.5 billion to support seven states in their recovery from major disasters that occurred last year, including Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Florence, and devastating wildfires in California. These funds are provided through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program and will address seriously damaged housing, businesses, and infrastructure in hard-hit areas of these states. The CDBG-DR Program requires grantees to develop thoughtful recovery plans informed by local residents.

“Last year’s disasters left damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure in their wake,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “These recovery dollars will help the hardest-hit communities in these states and allow for residents to put their lives back together again.”

The state’s receiving support are California (Wildfires and High Winds); Florida (Hurricane Michael); Georgia (Hurricane Michael); Hawaii (Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, Kilauea Volcanic Eruption, and Earthquakes); North Carolina (Hurricane Florence); South Carolina (Hurricane Florence); and Texas (Severe Storms and Flooding).

On Oct. 5, 2018, President Trump signed Public Law 115-254, which provides $1.68 billion in CDBG-DR funding for “disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a major disaster declared in 2018.” In addition to the funds being allocated today, HUD will allocate an additional $205 million later in the year following a comprehensive analysis of the recovery needs in American Samoa and the Northern Marianas.