Region 7 Newsroom

GSA continues support to FEMA in Hurricane Harvey Recovery

An important mission of the U.S. General Services Administration is to work with federal partners to find and lease property that meets their requirements.

Following declared emergencies, this mission becomes even more critical.

Recently, in Beaumont, Texas, Sydney Oliver, a supervisory realty specialist for GSA, worked with his counterparts in FEMA to find space for a Disaster Recovery Center to support the agency's efforts to assist the region after Hurricane Harvey. Disaster Recovery Centers offer in-person support to individuals and businesses in declared disaster areas.

“In times of emergency, we have to step up," said Oliver, who works out of GSA's Region 7, which covers Texas, Louisiana, and parts of the Southwest. "I jumped in a vehicle and drove down to Houston to assist FEMA.

"Finding the right property to lease can be tricky, as it involves blending the desires of square footage, location, safety, and cost," said Oliver. “GSA has a set of standards for buildings, and I’m here to assist in making sure the building meets our standards and the recovery effort's needs.”

To date, GSA has supported FEMA with the selection of 17 Disaster Recovery Centers in Texas.

GSA remains committed to supporting FEMA and other federal agencies in identifying and leasing suitable and accessible sites for recovery efforts in the wake of disasters along the Gulf Coast.