On Tuesday, Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas can expect more than a billion new dollars in mitigation funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

He encouraged communities affected by Hurricane Harvey to begin applying for the funds this week. $500 million of the $1 billion promised is already available to be used once applications for assistance are approved.

The funds can be used in a variety of ways, such as for buyouts, home elevations, seawalls, drainage projects, and other storm mitigation efforts.

The remaining $500 million is expected to become available by August 25th, the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey’s landfall.

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