Kendall County stands to receive more than $200,000 in federal public-assistance funds to launch recovery and restoration initiatives following the catastrophic July Fourth flood.
Christina Peese, county grant coordinator, on Nov. 12 told Kendall County Commissioners Court the Federal Emergency Management Agency has identified projects within the county that qualify for federal aid.
“The county has submitted 11 projects through FEMA’s public- assistance program,” Peese told commissioners. “Based on FEMA’s 75% reimbursement cost share, the county is positioned to recover over $200,000 ... for our flood-related damages.”
Peese said the Texas Department of Emergency Management worked closely with county staff to complete an initial assessment of flood damages.
As a result, Kendall County qualified for FEMA’s public-assistance program.
The county compiled a list of flood-related impacts to public infrastructure — including roads, bridges, parks and signs — “to request federal reimbursement to restore our facilities back to pre-disaster conditions,” Peese said.
With TDEM and FEMA guidance, the county used what Peese called “FEMA’s resource recovery roadmap” to flesh out possible funding opportunities, meet eligibility requirements and organize long-term recovery efforts.
During an initial meeting in August, county staff identified damaged assets.
“It impacted our parks, our roads, our signage and some of our bridges,” Peese said.
Through continued weekly meetings with FEMA and TDEM representatives, county officials “focused on documenting and requesting reimbursement for emergency response activities, as well as flood infrastructure damage,” she said.
Officials said 135 people including young campers died when a fierce rainstorm during the July holiday weekend caused the Guadalupe River in Kerr County to swell its banks. No fatalities were reported in Kendall County.
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