FEMA Announces Grant For West ISD Temporary Buildings

WEST, Texas (AP) _ Federal emergency officials have announced a grant of nearly $2.8 million to help schools devastated by a plant explosion in the Texas town of West.

An April fertilizer plant explosion killed 15 people and wrecked three of the West Independent School District’s four schools. The district had sent most of the affected students to nearby Waco for classes.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday announced a grant that includes money for temporary classrooms and administrative buildings to replace those destroyed or damaged in the explosion. Under a cost-sharing formula, FEMA reimburses the state 75 percent of the total costs while the state covers the rest.

Federal officials previously rejected $40 million in disaster aid for the schools. Insurers had offered just $20 million of the district’s $59 million policy.

More News