During the House Appropriations hearing on 10/2, the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) provided details on recent impacts to state agencies as a result of Hurricane Harvey response and recovery efforts. The list provided on recent impacts is as follows:
Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor
- Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code authorizes the Governor to provide grant-in-aid in response to disasters to state and local governments. These awards are made from funds in Strategy A.1.1., Disaster Funds.
- Expenses must be related to the purpose for which they were awarded, and agreements stipulate that recipients must repay the Office of the Governor any funds for which they receive federal reimbursement.
- To date, the following awards have been made:
- $50 million was granted to the City of Houston on September 29 to assist with response and recovery from Hurricane Harvey.
- $43 million to the Texas Military Department to reimburse the agency for costs from activating the National Guard.
- $10 million to the Texas Department of Public Safety to reimburse the agency for response costs incurred by Texas Department of Emergency Management.
Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
- HHSC efforts during and after Hurricane Harvey are primarily focused on providing assistance to individuals impacted by the storm. The agency coordinates state and federal resources, and provides financial and other assistance directly to those affected.
- The agency has processed and approved over 280,000 applications for FEMA Other Needs Assistance totaling approximately $300 million, with FEMA providing 75% of the funding.
- The agency has provided nearly $760 million in disaster food stamps, early food, and replacement food benefits for SNAP recipients.
Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
- DSHS response to Hurricane Harvey focuses on the public health and well-being of those impacted by the storm.
- The agency assesses the public health and medical needs, ensuring the safety and security of foods, coordinating patient care, medical personnel and equipment.
- The agency also assesses the health and medical infrastructure of the impacted area(s) and provides necessary resources including staff, supplies, and equipment to speed recovery.
- To date the agency has expended approximately $13 million, most of which is expected to be reimbursed by the federal government.
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
- The agency has granted several waivers to affected districts, including for missed school days and minimum days of service; extended reporting deadlines; worked with Regional Education Service Centers to help coordinate district recovery (estimated cost of $1 million in FY 2018); and established resource webpages and helplines for districts and parents.
- TEA is collecting data and analyzing options for school district relief through the school finance system, including issues of: loss of entitlement due to student enrollment decline, loss of local property tax revenue, remediation costs for damaged facilities, additional compensatory education costs, etc.
Institutions of Higher Education
- University of Houston System institutions reported costs related to water and wind damage at multiple campuses.
- The Marine Science Institute, part of The University of Texas at Austin, sustained major damage.
- The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center reported costs in salaries, overtime, and stipends, including costs for employees who remained on-site during Harvey.
- Several institutions reported tuition and other revenue losses.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas Division of Emergency Management within DPS is the designated state agency to coordinate the state's response efforts with local and federal agencies in preparation for, during, and after a major disaster.
- Over 3,000 FTEs assisted and continue to assist with life safety, search and rescue, security, and other activities.
- The agency reported approximately $250 million in expenditures related to Hurricane Harvey. Of that amount, an estimated $208 million ($164 million in federal funds) has been passed through to local entities.
Texas Military Department (TMD)
- TMD mobilized over 17,000 Air and Army National Guard and State Guard Service Members in coordination with Texas Task Force 1, supported evacuations in flooded areas, conducted air and land search and rescue operations, and provided security as directed by TDEM.
- Of the $69 million agency reported estimated expenses, the majority of them were salary related.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)
- In preparation for, and response to Hurricane Harvey, TDCJ responded to requests from TDEM to assist with operations for the public and first responders. Approximately 3,000 employees were involved relief efforts.
- Costs were incurred evacuating over 5,000 offenders and 900 parolees and probationers from facilities located in Beaumont, Houston, Richmond, and Rosharon, and receiving offenders from Harris County. All units have since been repopulated.
- The agency reported $1 million in estimated expenses, mainly due to salaries and overtime.
Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD)
- Approximately 500 TPWD officers provided more than 10,000 water related rescues to those impacted by the flooding. Strike teams from across the state shuttled equipment, cleared debris, gutted buildings, restored facilities, and performed other tasks. State parks waived fees for more than 8,000 refugees.
- Out of $53 million estimated expenses and lost revenue, state park infrastructure damages are estimated at $32 million.
General Land Office (GLO)
- GLO signed agreements with FEMA for programs and funding for immediate disaster assistance housing needs.
- GLO is using Section 14.04 Authority to transfer $58 million from FY 2019 to FY 2018 for a variety of disaster responses, including procuring manufactured housing for the Rockport area.
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
- TWC has processed over 141,000 disaster-related Unemployment Insurance claims. These include approximately $21 million in federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefit payments, and an estimated $175 million in Unemployment Insurance benefit payments related to Harvey, paid through the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
- TWC will leverage a $30 million National Dislocated Worker Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to support employment recovery and rebuilding efforts. The funds will be distributed to areas in Texas that were impacted by extensive damage and flooding to assist with cleanup, demolition, repair, renovation and reconstruction activities.