Governor Abbott Announces Approval Of Federal Disaster Assistance For Additional Counties Following Texas Flooding

Governor Abbott Announces Approval Of Federal Disaster Assistance For Additional Counties Following Texas Flooding

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the federal government has updated the Presidential Disaster Declaration following recent flooding in Texas  to include Burnet, Kerr, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties now eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance program. Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Menard, and San Saba counties were also approved for FEMA’s Public Assistance program.

"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," said Governor Abbott. "There has been extraordinary collaboration with the state and the federal government to make sure that we address Texans' needs as quickly as possible through disaster assistance programs. The State of Texas will continue to work with our federal and local partners to provide impacted Texans with the support they need to heal and recover.”

After completion and verification of damage assessments, qualifying Texans in the following counties are eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program: Burnet, Kerr, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson. Texans can apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. Additional counties may be added as additional damage assessments are completed in impacted communities.

FEMA has now approved its Public Assistance program, including assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities, for Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Menard, and San Saba. A request from Texas to authorize additional FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program resources statewide remains pending.

Officials continue to review disaster damage information self-reported by Texans through TDEM's Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) damage survey. When it is safe to do so, impacted Texans are encouraged to submit information about damage to homes or businesses by visiting damage.tdem.texas.gov. These details are vital to help officials identify impacted areas and connect Texans with resources.

Governor Abbott continues to take action to provide all necessary resources to local officials as they respond to flooding, including:

• Requesting additional counties for President Trump's Major Disaster Declaration
• Directing the state’s ongoing flood response and recovery efforts
• Announcing disaster unemployment assistance for flood impacts
• Surveying the flood damage of the affected areas and updating Texans on response efforts
• Providing an update on the state’s ongoing flood response in impacted communities
• Obtaining approval from President Trump for federal disaster assistance as part of a Major Disaster Declaration
• Amending the state’s disaster declaration to include additional impacted counties and providing an update on the state’s emergency response in affected areas
• Providing an update on the state’s response to severe flooding in Kerr County and surrounding communities
• Increasing the readiness level of the State Operations Center and activating additional state emergency response resources as portions of West and Central Texas prepared for heavy rainfall and flash flooding threats
• Deploying state emergency response resources ahead of the rain and flooding threat

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