Kerr County storm recovery aid available to eligible property owners

Kerr County residents who suffered damages to their properties during last month’s severe winter storm may be eligible to receive financial assistance to help them in their repair, rebuild and recovery process. Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Dub Thomas has provided the following information:

USDA Resources Available for Storm Damage Sufferers Farmers/Ranchers:

The United States Dept. of Agriculture offers an array of disaster assistance programs for farmers/ranchers and they are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center by visiting: https://offices.sc.egov.usda/locator/app. Additionally, farmers and ranchers can visit: https://www.farmers.gov/connect/blog/disaster-planning-and-assistance/usda-offers-disaster-assistance-producers-facing.

Other USDA Programs:

Individual homeowners who earn very low income may apply for USDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants which are restricted to eligible applicants who are 62 years of age or older. Texas is participating in a pilot program that increases the program limits to $10,000 for grants and $40,000 for loans – offering a combined total of $50,000 in assistance.

For more information visit: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-repair-loans-grants.

For Public Infrastructure:

The USDA offers an “Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant” to help eligible rural communities of 10,000 residents or fewer make repairs to their community water system that suffered a significant decline in water quality or quantity due to the storm. For more information visit: Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants/Rural Development (usda.gov).

For Community Facilities:

USDA offers a direct loan and grant program to supply funds to the long-term recovery from the winter storm which can support a variety of projects for essential facilities that may have been damaged by the disaster or to better handle future emergency situations.

For additional information visit: Community Facilities direct Loan & Grant Program/Rural Development (usda.gov).