AUSTIN — Today Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced more than 10,000 homes have received repairs through the Partial Repair and Essential Power for Sheltering (PREPS) Program in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program is designed to help homeowners whose home received less than $17,000 in FEMA verified loss resulting from Hurricane Harvey. The program provides basic repairs that allow homeowners to live in their homes and their communities as they make more permanent repairs to their homes. Up to $20,000 in repairs, including restoring electricity, air conditioning/heating, and hot water, debris removal, limited drywall and insulation, and restoring a functional bathroom and kitchen facilities, have been provided to return the homes to a standard of safe, sanitary and secure.

"I am thankful 10,000 Texas families have been able to return home following Hurricane Harvey, but there is still much more work to be done," said Governor Abbott. "Texas will use every tool available such as the PREPS program to help all victims of the storm rebuild their homes and lives. I am grateful for the work of our partners at FEMA and the Texas General Land Office in reaching this milestone, and I look forward to continuing our work together throughout this rebuilding process."

"The size and scope of Hurricane Harvey was devastating not only for communities, but also for thousands of Texans unable to make repairs necessary to move back in their homes," said Commissioner Bush. "The PREPS program has now helped more than 10,000 families by providing basic repairs that help them on the road to full recovery. We're committed to helping Texan families get back home and won't stop working until the job is done."

 About PREPS
The PREPS program is a pilot public assistance program that provides basic repairs to single-family owner-occupied homes that received less than $17,000 in FEMA verified loss resulting from Hurricane Harvey. The program provides up to $20,000 in basic repairs to enable homeowners to live in their homes while continuing repairs.

Examples of repairs provided through the PREPS program for eligible Texas homeowners rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey.

FEMA received nearly 900,000 applications for federal assistance. More than 371,000 individuals and families were eligible and received federal assistance such as grants, SBA loans, National Flood Insurance Program payments, and other forms of aid. FEMA performed initial inspections to determine eligibility for the PREPS program and the additional direct housing programs. FEMA provided more than 85,000 potentially eligible participants to GLO who, through coordinated outreach, determined each applicant's interest in participating in the program. To date, 18,582 Texas homeowners expressed interest in receiving PREPS repairs and have signed right of entry paperwork. Work is now complete on more than 10,000 homes with the remainder in the process of receiving repairs.

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