The State of Texas made a visit to Orange on Thursday to get a first-hand look at the devastation to public housing in the area. Texas General Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush toured the Velma Jeter Manor which had two feet of water in the facility and had all 80 units in the complex damaged according to developer Chris Akbari.
After viewing the devastation at the Velma Jeter Manor, Bush outlined the monumental task assigned him and the General Land Office (GLO) by Governor Greg Abbott. It is the first time that a state agency has taken the responsibility of supplying temporary housing following a disaster. It is a billion-dollar program effecting about 6,000 evacuees that the GLO is coordinating with FEMA according to Bush.
The visit to Orange was to evaluate properties like the Velma Jeter Manor that could qualify for permanent housing dollars that were appropriated by Congress two weeks after Harvey. Bush indicated a five-billion-dollar block grant should arrive to help Texans in a few months. Bush commented, “This one would be one of several examples to help Texans get back on their feet.”
In the four months since Harvey struck the Texas Gulf Coast, Bush has been working to cut through the red tape to get funds for Texans to help rebuild and recover from the storm. The Commissioner stated the record will show that the GLO has delivered assets faster than any point in American history. He admitted the job is not complete. “We’re not going to rest, we’re not going anywhere until everybody’s taken care of,” Bush promised.
Meeting with Commissioner Bush on his visit to Orange was Precinct 2 County Commissioner Barry Burton (top) and Zach Johnson from State Representative Dade Phelan’s office. The stop in Orange was one of several trips Bush plans to make in the next few days to observe damaged housing complexes across the state.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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