Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has asked President Joe Biden to issue a Presidential Disaster Declaration for areas of the Lone Star State impacted by recent severe weather and flooding.
Texas has been rocked by inclement weather over the past few weeks, including thunderstorms that have triggered flooding and tornadoes.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday Abbott wrote: "Due to severe weather and flooding that continues to cause devastating damage in several of our communities, I am requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration.
"The extensive damage caused by these severe storms, historic river flooding, and tornadoes requires comprehensive, robust action by all levels of government to help Texans rebuild and recover."
Left, President Joe Biden speaks at Gateway Technical College in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, on May 8, 2024. Right, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott makes an announcement at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on March 26, 2024.... Left, President Joe Biden speaks at Gateway Technical College in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, on May 8, 2024. Right, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott makes an announcement at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on March 26, 2024. Abbott has urged Biden to issue a Disaster Declaration following severe weather in Texas. More MANDEL NGAN/AFP/SUZANNE CORDEIRO/GETTY
Abbott included a link to a press release from his office, which included his full letter to Biden. In the letter, referring to Texas' ongoing severe weather and flooding, he said: "I have determined that the incident is of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments, and that supplementary federal assistance is necessary to save lives and to protect property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster."
In his letter Abbott listed 98 Texas counties he said had been severely impacted, of which "27 counties have met the thresholds for Public Assistance and Individual Assistance," while an additional six counties met "the criteria for both programs."
He said: "I am requesting all parts of Public Assistance Categories A through G, including Direct Federal Assistance (DFA) for these twenty-six (26) counties: Bosque, Concho, Coryell, Eastland, Falls, Freestone, Grimes, Hamilton, Hardin, Hill, Houston, Kaufman, Lampasas, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, McCulloch, Milam, Mills, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, San Saba, Trinity, and Walker Counties."
The governor also asked to access the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program state wide, and the U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program "for physical and economic loss for all counties requested."
Newsweek contacted the White House for comment by email at 2:30 a.m. ET on Thursday.
According to the official FEMA website: "The President can declare an emergency for any occasion or instance when the President determines federal assistance is needed."
If this takes place, up to $5 million can be spent on disaster relief without reporting to Congress, though this figure can be increased with approval from the legislature.
On May 14 Biden issued a disaster declaration for the state of Iowa following "severe storms and tornadoes from April 26 to April 27, 2024."
On May 1 heavy rainfall in Texas caused flooding along the Trinity River affecting Harris County after dangerous flash floods hit the area around the east Texan city of Galveston.
On April 24 an "extreme fire behavior warning" was issued by the National Weather Service for the El Paso region of Texas, just across from the Mexican border.
In his X post Abbott added: "The request to declare a major disaster for the state of Texas comes after an initial review of damage sustained due to catastrophic flash flooding, historic river flooding, extremely large hail, damaging wind gusts, and destructive tornadoes.
"Local jurisdictions have reported more than $58 million in public infrastructure damage estimates thus far, including disaster response costs and debris management."
VOIDsama on May 16th, 2024 at 16:37 UTC »
biden should fly down there and do a big public press conference where he tells the public he came at abbots request for help. to help the people of texas when their own leaders have failed them.
sugarlessdeathbear on May 16th, 2024 at 16:12 UTC »
"Fuck your Title 9 rules and money."
Storms happen
"Please I like your money."
What a flip flopper. We either need federal money or we don't, which is it?
YourGodsMother on May 16th, 2024 at 16:04 UTC »
And he’ll get it too, because Biden doesn’t want Texans to suffer more than they have to. If the roles were reversed however, Abbott would be trying to make sure as many Texans die as possible.