Biden Approves Major Disaster Declaration in 7 Texas Counties After Deadly Storm
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott known as for ‘sturdy motion,’ citing ‘in depth injury brought on by these extreme storms, historic river flooding, and tornadoes.’
President Joe Biden has authorized a significant catastrophe declaration in seven Texas counties affected by extreme climate and flooding.
The White Home introduced Friday that the president had declared {that a} main catastrophe exists in components of Texas, unlocking federal funding to affected people within the following counties: Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker.
The declaration permits affected Texans to use for funds from Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) for bills like emergency residence repairs, momentary housing, uninsured property loss, and funeral bills related to the catastrophe.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, requested the president in a letter Wednesday to declare a catastrophe because the Lone Star confronted a bout of extreme climate that started on April 26 and led to main flooding and in depth injury.
“The in depth injury brought on by these extreme storms, historic river flooding, and tornadoes requires complete, sturdy motion by all ranges of presidency to assist Texans rebuild and get better,” Mr. Abbott mentioned in a press release.
The governor requested for particular person help for seven impacted counties and public help packages for 26 impacted counties, with President Biden’s Friday declaration approving the seven-county request, with the remaining one nonetheless pending.
“The partial approval of my Presidential Catastrophe Declaration request is an important step in the proper route in serving to Texans rebuild and get better from current extreme climate occasions,” Mr. Abbott mentioned in a Friday assertion.
The request for FEMA’s public help program, which remains to be below overview, would cowl emergency work and repairs, together with prices associated to removing of particles.
The mayor of Houston, which was hit exhausting by the storm, thanked President Biden for his “swift help” in approving the catastrophe declaration.
Lethal Storms
On Saturday, the Houston space labored to scrub up and restore energy to 1000’s after lethal storms that left a minimum of seven individuals lifeless.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez mentioned three individuals died throughout the storm, together with an 85-year-old lady whose residence caught fireplace after being struck by lightning and a 60-year-old man who had tried to make use of his automobile to energy his oxygen tank.
Mr. Whitmire beforehand mentioned a minimum of 4 individuals had been killed within the metropolis when the storms swept by means of Harris County, which incorporates Houston.
The Nationwide Climate Service issued flood advisories and watches for components of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
![A man walks over fallen bricks from a damaged building in the aftermath of a severe thunderstorm, in Houston, Texas, on May 17, 2024. (David J. Phillip/AP Photo)](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F05%2F18%2Fid5652660-building-collapse-texas-1200x800.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
The Nationwide Climate Service in Houston warned that with temperatures hitting round 90 levels this weekend, individuals ought to know the signs of warmth exhaustion. ”Don’t overdo your self throughout the cleanup course of,” it mentioned in a put up on X.
The balmy climate is a priority in a area the place greater than a half-million houses and companies remained with out electrical energy Saturday morning—down from almost 1 million, in keeping with PowerOutage.us.
Fierce storms Thursday with winds of as much as 100 mph blew out home windows in downtown Houston, whereas a twister touched down close to the northwest Houston suburb of Cypress.
![Blown-out windows on a high-rise downtown building are shown in the aftermath of a severe thunderstorm in Houston, Texas, on May 17, 2024. (David J. Phillip/AP Photo)](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F05%2F18%2Fid5652661-storm-houston-windows-1200x800.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![A woman looks at the damage caused by fallen bricks from a building wall in the aftermath of a severe thunderstorm in Houston, Texas, on May 17, 2024. (David J. Phillip/AP Photo)](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F05%2F18%2Fid5652662-texas-storm-1200x800.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Harris County Decide Lina Hidalgo mentioned Friday that it may take weeks for energy to be restored in some areas.
The widespread destruction introduced a lot of Houston to a standstill. Bushes, particles, and shattered glass littered the streets. One constructing’s brick wall was ripped off.
Faculty districts within the Houston space canceled courses Friday for greater than 400,000 college students and authorities places of work had been closed. Metropolis officers urged individuals to keep away from downtown and keep off roads, a lot of which had been flooded or lined with downed energy traces and malfunctioning site visitors lights.
The Related Press contributed to this report.