By Ken Stickney

ken.stickney@panews.com

Rebecca Underhill’s presentation last week at the Port Arthur City Council meeting caught some attention in the City Council chambers.

The South East Texas Regional Planning Commission would host a first meeting seeking pathways to distribution for $5.02 billion in federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery money, she said, part of the slow-moving promise that’s making its way from the nation’s capital to the Texas Coast, eight months after Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey. That meeting occurred Thursday at Lamar University and Port Arthur was well represented.

Much of that CDBG money — $2.3 billion or 45 percent — has been promised to Houston and Harris County. But much of it has not, including $205 million for homeowner assistance programs, $51.6 million for local buyout and acquisition program money, and $105.5 million for local infrastructure programs that’s headed to SETRPC’s three counties: Jefferson, Hardin and Orange.

We’re No. 2

Much of that federal Housing and Urban Development funding, 80 percent, is headed toward the 16 Texas counties “most impacted” by the August 2017 storms. Among those, Jefferson ranked No. 2. That was the word from Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branyck at a recent local meeting.

It’s no surprise that Jefferson County and Port Arthur appears to be high on the list of storm-affected areas. Underhill said by the city’s count, some 7,500 of 20,000 homes here were damaged or destroyed.

In an interview last week, Underhill said distribution of Harvey funds would differ from funding distributions in past storms. SETRPC won’t distribute funds to homeowners, nor will the local governments. The state General Land Office will do that. After Hurricanes Rita and Ike, SETRPC distributed money to homeowners.

While GLO will distribute $205 million to homeowners in Hardin, Jefferson and Orange, its method for doing that is not yet firm.

“We were told last week that program guidelines and application processes are under development and we can expect to get more information later,” Underhill said. “Later,” she added, might mean late summer.

“GLO is going to have to staff up to do this,” Underhill said. “It’s amazing how many months we are still scurrying for information.

“This part” — helping homeowners — “is heartbreaking to me,” she added. “It’s been so many months.”

Be ready

Last Tuesday, District 4 Councilman Harold Doucet suggested that affected homeowners should be ready when federal money comes available.

“Citizens should get as much information as possible,” he said, suggesting they access the GLO website.

“Our needs will outweigh whatever money we get,” he said. “People need to understand: Don’t drag your feet.”

Mayor pro tem Thomas Kinlaw said Port Arthur ranked No. 1 in Jefferson County for impact, but added that the application process was “critical.”

Underhill said the city has a flood recovery plan, developed with a consultant’s help. The city’s plan involves identification of city needs and long-term recovery. That plan, she said, will likely be considered for adoption by the City Council at its next meeting.

She said the city would press the Federal Emergency Management Agency for infrastructure needs. The city has filed a damage assessment to FEMA. The city has also worked with its insurer and will use CDBG money to fill in gaps. It will seek federal money for hazard mitigation to ward off future problems.

That’s a lot of pieces to consider, she said.

“We’re trying to put the funding puzzle together to maximize what we get for the community,” she said.