By Lisa Maria Garza
DALLAS, Feb 10 (Reuters) – The federal government has
awarded $20 million in grants to rebuild two schools that were
destroyed last year in the central Texas town of West by a
deadly fertilizer plant explosion, officials said on Monday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said the
money will be used by the West Independent School District,
which has struggled for resources to rebuild from the April 17
blast that obliterated large parts of the town.
Superintendent Marty Crawford estimated two of the four
campuses suffered as much as $53 million in damage from the
explosion. The district’s insurance company has paid out over
$30 million so far.
The intermediate school and high school were within about
800 yards (meters) of the blast site and could not be salvaged.
The middle school sustained minor structural damage and the
elementary school was untouched by the explosion.
Students were bused to neighboring counties to finish out
the school year and are now housed in portable buildings on the
district’s property.
“With FEMA’s announcement, we’re confident the cost will be
covered,” Crawford said.
Construction will begin in July and students could fill the
hallways in late 2015 or early 2016, Crawford said.
The explosion at the plant killed 14 people. Local officials
said costs have surpassed $100 million for city and school
repairs.
In June, FEMA turned down the state’s initial $40 million
request for aid on the grounds that state resources were
adequate to help the community of 2,800 rebuild.
Texas Governor Rick Perry appealed the decision and FEMA
declared the city a major disaster site in August.
(Reporting by Lisa Maria Garza; Editing by Jon Herskovitz and
Cynthia Osterman)
