Austin, Texas – In response to the massive flooding that has hit communities in the past several weeks, Governor Greg Abbott has added four more Texas counties to the state’s disaster proclamation. The official declaration now includes Edwards, Kinney, Real, and Schleicher counties. This brings the total number of counties affected by the state decree to 30.
“Today, I expanded my state disaster declaration to include four additional counties,” said Governor Abbott. “This will help local officials and emergency management personnel access every available resource to support their fellow Texans in need. I also directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to work with FEMA and the Trump Administration to bring additional federal assistance to even more affected counties. Texas will continue to be relentless in our efforts to help impacted Texans and communities rebuild from these catastrophic floods.”
The state is also trying to get federal authorization for four more counties—Guadalupe, Kimble, Menard, and McCulloch—to be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program. These federal programs help those who have lost property and experienced personal losses in disasters pay for some of the costs. Recent damage estimates show that these counties are above the federal limits for getting help. People in specific areas of Texas are encouraged to ask for help through FEMA’s website or by phone.
Five counties—Edwards, Lampasas, Reeves, Schleicher, and Sutton—have been found to not meet federal standards for FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, which helps local governments and organizations pay for repairs to infrastructure that was damaged in disasters.
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The declaration comes after weeks of severe weather in West and Central Texas, where flooding has destroyed homes, closed roads, and damaged important public buildings. Governor Abbott has been going to affected communities, such as Leander, Kerrville, and San Angelo, to speak with first responders and those who have been affected.
The Governor’s office has set up a lot of help for recovery. For example, the Texas Micro-Business Disaster Recovery Loan Program can give up to $5 million, and hospitals in Kerrville and Llano have received more than $1.9 million in grants. Other things being done are setting up a special emotional support hotline for flood victims, sending out emergency supplies, and making it easier for people in 26 counties to buy hot meals under the SNAP program.
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Officials said that as damage assessments continue, more counties may be added to both the state and federal disaster designations in the next few days. Governor Abbott assured Texans that the state will remain proactive in its flood recovery efforts, working closely with federal agencies and local leaders to ensure every community receives the help it needs.
