$24 Million in New Funding Targets Flood Control and Disaster Preparedness in Texas

The Texas General Land Office has approved more than $24 million in new regional mitigation funds aimed at strengthening infrastructure and reducing the impact of future natural disasters. The funding will support projects in Kendall County and the cities of Caldwell, Marion, and Victoria, addressing needs such as roads, drainage, sewer systems, and water detention.

The announcement was made by Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, who emphasized the importance of long-term resilience. She noted that these projects represent more than infrastructure upgrades—they are investments to protect homes, safeguard livelihoods, and prepare communities for future challenges.

The funds come through the Regional Mitigation Program, which focuses on local priorities to ensure projects deliver meaningful and lasting benefits. The program is part of a broader effort by the General Land Office to distribute Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Texas received a total of $1.16 billion in CDBG-MIT funding for this program.

To determine how the funds would be allocated, each Council of Government with HUD-designated eligible counties developed a Method of Distribution (MOD). These MODs were shaped through extensive public participation, ensuring that local voices played a central role in identifying projects that will best serve their communities.

Mitigation, as defined by HUD, refers to activities that increase resilience to disasters and reduce or eliminate long-term risks. This can include preventing loss of life and injury, reducing property damage, and limiting the overall hardship caused by future natural disasters. Federal rules require that at least half of the total funds benefit low-to moderate-income individuals, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive critical support.

The newly approved grants are part of a larger pool of mitigation funding provided to Texas in the wake of several major disasters. Since 2015, HUD has allocated more than $4.3 billion in Community Development Block Grant Mitigation funds to the state. These allocations included nearly $4.1 billion following the 2017 disaster year alone, along with additional funding in 2015, 2016, and 2018.

The Regional Mitigation Program builds on this federal support by focusing resources on projects that address infrastructure weaknesses and reduce future disaster risks. By directing funds into areas such as drainage improvements and water management, the program aims to strengthen communities against flooding and other natural hazards.

For residents of Kendall County and the cities of Caldwell, Marion, and Victoria, the approval of these projects represents a step forward in disaster preparedness. Infrastructure improvements funded through the program are designed not only to meet today’s needs but also to ensure these communities remain strong and resilient in the years ahead.