TLA Disaster Relief Grant Open for Central Texas Communities

The Texas Library Association extends its deepest sympathies to all affected by the devastating floods in Central Texas. Libraries affected are encouraged to apply for the TLA Disaster Relief Grant. Academic, public, school, and special libraries are all eligible to receive assistance. ​Grants can be used for technology, facility repair, collections, furnishings, or other needs related to storm damage.

Public Assistance is available for Burnet, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Tom Green, Kerr, Kendall, Kimble, Menard, and San Saba Counties. This covers emergency protective measures like temporary repairs, debris removal, cleaning HVAC systems, and relocating collections to prevent damage.

Individual Assistance is available for Kerr, Burnet, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson Counties. Recent program changes make it easier for self-employed individuals, including artists, to access aid. Click here for more details.

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), a public-private partnership between FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution, is supporting response and recovery efforts of Texas’ arts & culture sector – and the public. 

1. Cultural institutions, arts organizations, artists, and performing groups can contact the National Heritage Responders hotline at 202.661.8068. The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance.
2. Members of the public and individual artists with questions about saving family heirlooms and personal collections can email the National Heritage Responders.
3. HENTF’s Save Your Family Treasures guidance is available here. You can find the downloadable FEMA fact sheets “After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures” and “Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms,” available in multiple languages.
4. Impacted cultural institutions or arts organizations are encouraged to fill out one of the following Rapid Damage Assessment Forms hosted by the National Coalition of Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation:

• Cultural Institutions 
• Arts Organizations  
• Individual Artists and Performing Groups  

NEA has extended the FY26 Grants for Arts Projects 2 application deadline for those organizations that are experiencing weather-related difficulties due to recent storms in Texas and North Carolina (e.g., power outages, lack of reliable internet access, etc.). For all other applicants, the application deadline will remain Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. 

Organizations must request an extension by contacting the NEA at [email protected] no later than Thursday, July 24, 2025. Please be sure to include your name, location, the legal name of your organization, and your contact information. Very briefly, explain the weather-related difficulties due to recent storms in Texas and North Carolina that prevent you from submitting an application by July 17^th.

Additional ways you can support:

• Donate to the TLA Disaster Relief Fund.
• Donate to the American Red Cross Central & South Texas Region.
• Share these resources for affected libraries.

Your support will help rebuild Texas communities. Please consider donating to bring hope and resources back to those in their time of need.