In a swift response to the recent catastrophic flooding across Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has expanded the state's disaster declaration to include Edwards, Kinney, Real, and Schleicher counties. This update, detailed in a press release from the Governor's Office, now encompasses a total of 30 counties under the disaster declaration umbrella. In a statement, Abbott proclaimed, "Today, I expanded my state disaster declaration to include four additional counties." He emphasized the aim of providing local officials with every available resource to support Texans who are grappling with the aftermath of these devastating floods.
Abbott also directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to collaborate with FEMA and the Trump Administration to procure additional federal assistance for further affected counties. As the Governor's Office explains, Texas remains steadfast in helping those impacted by the flooding rebuild their communities. Currently, four counties have been requested to be eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance programs, with efforts ongoing to add more counties to the disaster relief efforts as damage assessments are completed.
Residents of Guadalupe, Kimble, Menard, and McCulloch counties may soon receive federal aid, as damage assessments indicate they surpass the federal criteria for such assistance. Disaster assistance applications are now being processed, and Texans in need can apply online or through FEMA’s dedicated helpline. As the situation develops, additional counties are projected to be included based upon further evaluations of the damages incurred.
In the realm of public assistance, Edwards, Lampasas, Reeves, Schleicher, and Sutton counties have been identified as exceeding the federal criteria. This categorization could unlock assistance for emergency work and the restoration of disaster-stricken facilities. With the potential for more counties to be added according to updated information, the Governor’s office ensures efforts are ongoing to assist all impacted areas with equal diligence and urgency.
Governor Abbott's actions to date, as mentioned in the same press release, include securing federal disaster assistance for additional regions, surveying the destruction firsthand, launching support resources such as the Texas Flooding Emotional Support Line, and providing considerable funding for hospitals and micro-business affected by the floods.
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