Abbott declares disaster for 101 counties

Greg Abbott’s June 15 disaster declaration for 101 Texas counties did two things at once: it widened the state’s immediate response to severe storms, and it underscored how much of Texas remains in flood mode a year after the 2025 Hill Country disaster. Abbott said the order was needed because ongoing storms and flood risks were affecting communities across the state, and his office said the Texas Division of Emergency Management had been directed to activate additional resources and move the State Emergency Operations Center to 24-hour operations. The order came as state agencies were also pushing longer-term planning. The Texas General Land Office this week opened a 30-day public comment period on Amendment 5 to the Mitigation State Action Plan, a change the agency said would create a new Mitigation Reallocation Program using unutilized and deobligated federal mitigation funds. GLO Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said the program was intended to help communities pursue projects that reduce future disaster risks. (gov.texas.gov) ### Which powers did Abbott’s declaration actually unlock? Abbott’s June 15 statement said the declaration was issued so local officials and communities could access “the full range of state resources and support.” His office said additional counties could be added if conditions warranted. (glo.texas.gov) The governor’s office also said Texans should avoid driving through flooded roadways, monitor local forecasts and follow warnings from local officials. The Texas Division of Emergency Management had already been directed the week before to activate resources ahead of the flood threat, the release said. (gov.texas.gov) ### Why is the General Land Office asking for public input now? The Texas General Land Office said on July 7 that Amendment 5 to the Mitigation State Action Plan would be open for public comment for 30 days, with submissions due before 5 p.m. on August 6. The agency said it would review and respond to comments before sending the amendment to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for final approval. (gov.texas.gov) The GLO said the amendment would introduce a Mitigation Reallocation Program aimed at keeping mitigation funding in use for Texas communities. Separate GLO planning materials say the agency oversees funding for FEMA-approved local hazard mitigation plans and an enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan, including studies tied to flood, wildfire and other disaster risks. (glo.texas.gov) ### How much of this debate is shaped by the 2025 Kerr County floods? Houston Public Media reported on July 8 that residents in Kerr County said they were better prepared one year after the deadly July 4, 2025 floods, even as local officials were still working through gaps in warning systems and emergency planning. The outlet reported that the Texas Legislature had advanced a bill that would require emergency plans for flood-prone counties. (glo.texas.gov) Abbott separately amended and renewed the 2025 flooding disaster proclamation on June 16, 2026, listing Kerr and 29 other counties tied to that earlier event. That proclamation said the July 2025 flooding caused widespread property damage, injuries or loss of life in several counties. (houstonpublicmedia.org) ### Is Texas the only place dealing with this kind of flood pressure? Surat district in Gujarat, India, recorded deadly flooding this week after heavy monsoon rain. Reports from India said at least nine people were killed and more than 3,500 residents were evacuated as low-lying areas filled and rescue operations expanded. (gov.texas.gov) Texas officials are now on a parallel calendar of response and planning. Public comments on the GLO amendment run through August 6, 2026, and the agency said it will forward the revised plan to HUD after reviewing submissions, while Abbott’s office has said more counties may be added to the disaster declaration if conditions worsen. (glo.texas.gov) (msn.com)