As Texas continues to grapple with the aftermath of the recent catastrophic flooding, Gov. Greg Abbott has called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to extend disaster assistance to several more counties. According to a press release from the governor's office, obtained by CBS Austin, Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to request that Burnet, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, and Tom Green counties be included in President Trump's Major Disaster Declaration.
This request was made after damage assessments indicated that the impact of the floodwaters in those counties exceeded federal criteria for public assistance, which can aid with emergency work and repairing or replacing damaged facilities. "Texas continues to rebuild and recover following recent catastrophic flooding," Abbott said in the statement, "I requested that additional counties be added to President Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration to ensure affected communities receive the assistance needed to respond and move forward," according to CBS Austin.
FEMA promptly approved the inclusion of additional Texan counties in the disaster declaration. This update was announced by Gov. Abbott's press office and reported by KXAN. Now, Burnet, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties will receive federal support. The approval follows the governor's request, underscoring the swift collaboration between state and federal authorities in the wake of the disaster.
In addition to the individual assistance made available for residents in the affected counties, FEMA's public assistance program will also be in effect for Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Menard, and San Saba. This means that these counties can access further help for infrastructure repair as a direct result of the flooding damage. "President Donald Trump approved my request to add more counties to his disaster declaration, which will provide critical assistance to Texans and communities impacted by the devastating flooding," Abbott elaborated, as reported by KXAN. Businesses in these regions, now have the opportunity to apply for loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration's disaster loan program for physical and economic losses.
As Texas continues its recovery efforts, this federal assistance marks a step toward rebuilding and providing much-needed support for those who have endured the floods' wrath. While certain details regarding the extent of the assistance and specific allocations have yet to be disclosed, Gov. Abbott's proactive stance and FEMA's approval are seen as decisive actions in facilitating Texas' path to recovery.
