FEMA Approves More Than $141.6 Million to Help Communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas

DENTON, Texas - FEMA Region 6 announced approval of more than $141.6 million in post-disaster funding for Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities projects for Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

These programs empower states, local communities, tribes and territories to recover from disasters, rebuild safer and more resilient communities and protect infrastructure from future events. With this funding, President Donald J. Trump is keeping his promise to reform federal disaster support and ensure that taxpayer money is spent only on projects and programs that deliver safety and security to the American people.

Public Assistance

The funding includes nearly $126.4 million under FEMA's Public Assistance program awarded across Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. FEMA disburses this money to states and local communities because they are best positioned to know how these funds will be most effectively spent. The funded projects include repairs to critical infrastructure, restoration of public buildings, road repairs and reimbursement for costs incurred to ensure public health and safety after a disaster. Examples of projects reimbursed include:

• Nearly $8 million in federal funding to Doña Ana County, New Mexico, for permanent repairs to the Vado Channel as a result of 2025 severe storms, flooding and landslides
• More than $1.9 million to Community Center and Playground District Number 4 of Ward 1 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, for repairs to their stadium light system as a result of Hurricane Laura
• More than $1.5 million to the Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation in Jonesboro, Arkansas, for the power distribution system as a result of 2025 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding
• Nearly $230,000 to Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma, to fund emergency protective measures to lessen the immediate threat to public health, safety and property as a result of 2023 severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes
• More than $191,000 to the city of Austin, Texas, for bridge, bypass drain channel and other repair or replacement due to 2015 severe storms and tornadoes

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funding

FEMA is also awarding more than $15.1 million for projects in Arkansas and Texas that will prevent, eliminate or reduce future disaster-related damage. This money is being distributed through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Through this program, state, local or territory governments and Tribal Nations take proactive mitigation measures such as acquiring hazard-prone homes and businesses, adopting and enforcing building codes and standards, protecting against floods through elevations and drainage improvement projects, building safe rooms and upgrading utilities and infrastructure. Examples of projects include:

• More than $247,000 to the Yellville School District in Arkansas to fund a safe room as a result of 2024 severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes
• Nearly $105,000 to the city of Groom, Texas, for a warning and alert system as a result of the 2025 Welder Fire

FEMA coordinates directly with the state on all hazard mitigation projects. This aligns with FEMA's principle of ensuring that disaster recovery and mitigation is state-led and federally supported.

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities

FEMA also approved $168,000 to Louisiana through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, a program to empower states, local governments, and Tribal Nations to take decisive, proactive steps to protect their communities from potential disasters like fires, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. This federal investment generates jobs, protects private property, strengthens infrastructure, reduces the cost of future disasters and - most importantly - saves lives. The program maximizes state and local responsibility for resilience and risk reduction. This funding prioritizes infrastructure resilience by funding construction projects that are ready to implement and incentivizes the adoption of the latest hazard-resistant building codes.

• This funding for the city of Kenner, Louisiana, supports the Jefferson Parish 2020 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Benefits include the future implementation of wastewater improvements for infrastructure resilience and the protection of public health by identifying improvements to critical wastewater infrastructure, lift stations and sub-basins.

These awards are the latest examples of billions of dollars in disaster recovery provided by FEMA to support state and local communities as they work to rebuild from recent natural disasters. FEMA continues its renewed commitment to help communities recover from disasters like hurricanes, severe storms, tornadoes and wildfires while making them more resilient from future disasters. Funding for these projects is administered through the Stafford Act and is separate from Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire compensation in New Mexico.

About FEMA Region 6

The FEMA Region 6 office, located in Denton, Texas, partners with 68 Tribal Nations and the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Follow us at x.com/FEMARegion6 and at linkedin.com/showcase/fema-region-6/ and like us at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.