FEMA Approves More Than $135 Million to Help Communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas

DENTON, Texas - FEMA announced the approval of more than $135 million in funding for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects in 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 more than $114.1 million under FEMA's Public Assistance program awarded to projects in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

FEMA disburses this money to states, tribes and territories, as 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 include:

• Nearly $23.4 million to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for debris removal as a result of 2025 severe storms, flooding and landslides.
• More than $1.1 million to Izard County, Arkansas, for repairs to the Antioch Bridge as a result of 2025 severe storms, tornadoes and Flooding.
• Nearly $644,000 to Kerr County, Texas, for emergency measures to lessen the immediate threat to public health and safety and property as a result of 2025 severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding.
• Nearly $113,000 million to Lake Charles, Louisiana, for repairs to the Bord du Lac docks and piers and the park boardwalk as a result of Hurricane Laura in 2020.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funding

FEMA is also awarding nearly $21 million for projects in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico 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 territorial governments and Tribal Nations take proactive mitigation measures such as acquiring and removing flood-prone properties, 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 $10.8 million to construct a multiuse 20,000 square feet above-ground hurricane community saferoom in Hidalgo County, Texas, with an occupancy of 620 people. The saferoom will provide a secure location for first responders, critical and essential county employees and members of the public who cannot be evacuated during a hurricane.
• Nearly $2 million to the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, to mitigate bank erosion of the Arroyo Torreon drainage project by constructing an engineered channel upgrade, grouted boulder linings, gabion basket retaining structures and associated earthwork.
• Nearly $539,000 to the state of Arkansas to fund mitigation planning following severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding in 2024.
• Nearly $474,000 to Terrebonne Parish in Louisiana to fund generators and emergency power.

These awards are the latest examples of billions of dollars provided by FEMA to support local communities as they work to rebuild from recent natural disasters. FEMA continues its renewed commitment to support communities as they lead recovery from disasters like hurricanes, severe storms, tornadoes and wildfires while making themselves more resilient to 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/.