Texas has requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for statewide communities following recent severe weather and flooding. Inclement weather has caused more than $58 million in public infrastructure damage and taken multiple lives since April 26.
A severe weather disaster declaration was issued April 30 after rainfall, flooding, hail and wind wreaked havoc across 98 counties in East Texas. The letter sent to President Joe Biden requested federal assistance through individual assistance programs for seven counties and public assistance programs for 26 counties most heavily impacted.
If the Presidential Disaster Declaration is approved, jurisdictions in designated counties could also apply for federal grants for cleanup and infrastructure repair. The funds could be used for debris removal, emergency protective measures, roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and contents, public utilities, parks, recreational and other facilities.
Eligible Texans could also apply to federal programs for emergency financial assistance. The funds could be used for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment assistance and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster.
The storms are the latest in a series of major natural disasters in Texas since 2022. The March 2024 Wildfires were the largest in the state’s history, burning over 1 million acres, destroying hundreds of homes and resulted in widespread livestock death. A severe weather disaster declaration was issued in January 2023 due to widespread property damage, injury and loss of life due to storms. Texas saw sweeping wildfires across the state in January 2022 as well.