AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) request that additional counties be added to President Trump’s major disaster declaration related to the July 4 flooding.
According to the press release, the five counties requested to be eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) individual assistance program include Burnet, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson.
Abbott’s press office said four counties, Kendall, Kimble, Menard, and San Saba, were requested to be eligible for FEMA’s public assistance program.
“The State of Texas continues to stand with those impacted by the devastating flooding across the state,” said Governor Abbott. “Today, I directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to request that additional counties be added to the Presidential Disaster Declaration as they work to heal and recover.”
A review of damage assessments in Burnet, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties shows they exceeded the federal criteria needed to be eligible for federal programs, according to the press release.
Kendall, Kimble, Menard, and San Saba counties showed that these counties’ damage assessments exceeded the federal criteria for FEMA’s federal assistance program, according to Abbott’s press office.
Additionally, the major disaster declaration allows businesses to apply for the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan program for physical and economic losses for counties approved for individual assistance.