Governor Abbott Declares a State of Disaster, Requests Assistance for Counties

Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster and requested Individual Assistance for Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Franklin, Rockwall and Van Zandt Counties, said a press release Tuesday. Governor Abbott also requested Public Assistance for Bailey, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Dallas, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Ellis, Hall, Hardeman, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Kaufman, Kent, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Navarro, Parmer, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Titus, and Van Zandt counties. This declaration comes after preliminary damage assessments were finalized and federal declaration criteria was met. If the request is granted by the President, affected citizens in these counties may be eligible for Individual Assistance grants of up to $33,000 from the federal government, and low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

In addition to the counties included in the presidential disaster declaration request, Governor Abbott added Hockley, Liberty, Terry and Wichita Counties to the state disaster declaration issued on December 27, 2015.

“The severe weather that swept through Texas last December devastated many homes, businesses and lives,” Governor Abbott said. “A disaster declaration will provide Texans the resources needed to begin rebuilding after this tragedy.”

To view Governor Abbott’s Disaster Declaration, click here.

To view Governor Abbott's letter to the President, click here.