Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that an additional 10 counties have been added to the federal disaster declaration in the wake of severe flooding that has swept across the state. The counties newly included are Edwards, Guadalupe, Kimble, Lampasas, McCulloch, Menard, Real, Reeves, Schleicher, and Sutton. This move comes as a response to the considerable damages that have afflicted these areas, with the recognition that residents and local governments are in need of federal support to recover, as reported by the Office of the Texas Governor.
"I thank President Trump for approving these 10 additional counties for critical disaster assistance," Abbott stated, according to the Office of the Texas Governor official press release. His acknowledgment underpins the urgency to quickly start to rebuild in the aftermath of the floods. Among the counties, some are now able to receive Individual Assistance programs, while others can access public assistance, each tailored to address the specific needs of the impacted community.
The Office of the Texas Governor has detailed that assistance for individuals and businesses in the affected counties can involve financial aid for disaster-related expenses. Residents can apply for FEMA disaster assistance online or by phone, as laid out in the governor's announcement. Additionally, the Texas Workforce Commission is offering Disaster Unemployment Assistance in several of the impacted counties, providing a lifeline for workers and self-employed individuals who have lost their means of employment due to the natural disaster.
Governor Abbott’s administration is working alongside FEMA to help Texans recover from the recent floods. The state has asked the federal government to include more counties in the Major Disaster Declaration, making more people eligible for help. Texans can also get SNAP replacement benefits and apply for state programs like the Texas Micro-Business Disaster Recovery Loan Program, as per the Office of the Texas Governor.
