The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner and Houston Mayor John Whitmire have announced that the city plans to allocate a substantial part of its federal disaster recovery funding to support the Power Protection Initiative (PPI). The proposal would dedicate $151 million out of the $314 million in federal funds toward strengthening Houston’s power resilience infrastructure.
“HUD is proud to deliver $314 million in disaster recovery funding to Houston as we continue to prioritize helping Americans recover from natural disasters,” said Secretary Turner. “Mayor Whitmire has identified a great need to invest in infrastructure to support power resilience and help protect the region amid future disasters, and we at HUD understand that local officials know their communities best. A core component of our disaster response effort is providing local leaders flexibility on how to best use disaster recovery funds to maximize their benefit to communities. HUD looks forward to reviewing Houston’s draft action plan and working with Mayor Whitmire and his team to address storm relief, recovery, and mitigation.”
After this announcement, Houston will submit its finalized draft action plan for HUD approval. Once submitted, HUD will have 45 days to review the plan and provide feedback. Upon agreement between both parties, a grant agreement will be established so the city can implement its plan.
“Secretary Turner and I served together in the Texas Legislature, and we both recognize how essential it is for major cities like Houston to work closely with our federal partners. The City of Houston has identified more than 100 key sites across the city that will benefit from HUD funding our Power Protection Initiative. It is a step forward in our effort to ensure backup power is available at critical facilities, including water and sewer plants, public safety sites, shelters, and distribution hubs for emergency supplies,” said Mayor Whitmire. “This initiative is about building resilience, protecting lives, and keeping Houston strong during future emergencies.”
The $314 million was allocated by HUD following severe impacts from Hurricane Beryl and a derecho event in May 2024. The funds come through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. This program supports recovery efforts after Presidentially-declared disasters by addressing housing needs, public services, economic development or revitalization requirements, as well as planning or infrastructure projects such as installing permanent generators at public facilities.
Houston’s PPI aims not only at improving infrastructure but also ensuring that essential services remain available during crises.
