Texas GLO to Hold Nov. 16th Virtual Public Hearing for 2021 Winter Storms Action Plan

Public comments can be submitted via email, fax, and mail, or virtually during the hearing

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – On Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., the Texas General Land Office (GLO) will field public comments at a virtual public hearing for the State of Texas 2021 Winter Storms Action Plan for $43,632,000 in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. These funds were allocated to Texas by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for disaster recovery for areas affected by the 2021 Winter Storms (DR-4586) from Feb. 11-21, 2021.

The deadline to submit public comments is Dec. 6, 2023, by 5 p.m. Central Time.

The GLO’s action plan proposes distributing the funds through the following programs:
 

• The 2021 Winter Storms (21WS) HUD MID Counties Program ($30,459,000) - Provides funding for infrastructure improvements and/or the rehabilitation, reconstruction, and new construction of affordable multifamily housing within the HUD MID counties. This program will allow for specific projects in the HUD designated “most impacted and distressed” counties of Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant. Included in these program funds are the Mitigation Set-aside funds ($5.691 million) HUD provides for CDBG-DR grantees to mitigate against future similar disasters in the affected areas.
• The 2021 Winter Storms (21WS) Fire Facilities and Protective Measures (FFPM) Program ($7,500,000) - Provides funding for disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of fire protection facilities for the remaining 251 Secondary MID counties impacted by the 2021 Winter Storms. The program will allow for the recovery of fire protection facilities and allow for improvements and equipment, while also allowing for permanently affixed power generator public facility needs that are essential during winter storm events.

The action plan is available for review at recovery.texas.gov/public-notices. Per federal requirements, the GLO will consider and respond to all public comments before the final action plan is sent to HUD. Public comments may be emailed to the GLO at cdr@recovery.texas.gov, mailed to P.O. Box 12873, Austin, TX 78711-2873, or faxed to 512-475-5150.

Virtual Public Hearing via Zoom:
 

• Date: Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. (CT)
• Join Zoom Meeting: https://txglo.zoom.us/j/86722234406?pwd=VEk4T29aeWFnd3ZVeG0ySUJ2amtUdz09
• Meeting ID: 867 2223 4406
• For those who wish to call-in rather than utilize the Zoom link, please use the following information:
• Dial-In Number: +1 346 248 7799, +1 719 359 4580, +1 253 205 0468 US
• Meeting ID: 867 2223 4406

You may also click here to find your local number: https://txglo.zoom.us/u/kbtrIvV4Fn

To provide public comment during the event, participants must register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/21WS_Public_Hearing. Comments during the hearing will be limited to three (3) minutes, though additional comments can be submitted in writing as well. Translation services are available upon request for this hearing, provided that requests are made at least 48 hours in advance.

Reasonable Accommodations:

The GLO will provide reasonable accommodations for persons attending the virtual public hearing. The public hearing will be conducted in English and requests for language interpreters or other special communication needs must be made at least 48 hours prior to the virtual public hearing. Please call 512-463-5139 or toll free at 844-893-8937 or email cdr@recovery.texas.gov to request specific reasonable accommodations.