Texas declares disaster for 101 counties

Greg Abbott said on June 15 that Texas had declared disasters in 101 counties as severe storms and flood risks continued across the state, opening access to state emergency resources for local governments. The governor’s office said additional counties could be added if conditions worsened. The order came as Texas agencies were also moving on longer-term recovery and mitigation efforts, including a new public comment period on a state disaster plan and a Houston housing repair program tied to 2024 storm damage. The broader backdrop was a stretch of flood emergencies that also hit India and China this week. ### Which counties were covered by Abbott’s order? Abbott’s June 15 proclamation applied to 101 counties and said the declaration was needed because ongoing storms and flood risks were affecting communities across Texas. His office said the move was intended to ensure local officials and residents could access state support, and it added that more counties could be included later if warranted. (gov.texas.gov) The governor said in the release that Texas was prepared to respond to severe weather threats moving across the state. The declaration is a state-level step that allows emergency resources to be mobilized more quickly and gives local jurisdictions a formal basis for seeking assistance. (gov.texas.gov) ### What does the state say happens after a disaster declaration? The governor’s office said the order gives communities access to the “full range of state resources and support.” The release did not attach a dollar amount to the declaration, but it framed the action as part of an active response to flooding and storm threats already underway. (gov.texas.gov) The Texas General Land Office opened a separate 30-day public comment period this week on Amendment 5 to the Mitigation State Action Plan. The agency said the amendment would create a new Mitigation Reallocation Program using unutilized and deobligated federal Community Development Block Grant mitigation funds, with comments due before 5 p.m. on August 6, after which the amendment would be sent to the U.S. (gov.texas.gov) Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval. ### How does Houston fit into the state’s recovery picture? Houston city officials approved a $45 million repair and reconstruction program on July 8 for single-family homes damaged by Hurricane Beryl and the 2024 derecho, Houston Public Media reported. The outlet said the program was approved two years after the storms and would help fund repairs for homeowners still dealing with damage. (glo.texas.gov) Houston Public Media reported that the money would only partly address losses from the two storms, underscoring the gap between immediate emergency declarations and the slower work of rebuilding homes. The program is part of Houston’s use of disaster recovery funding tied to the 2024 events. (houstonpublicmedia.org) ### What other flood emergencies were unfolding at the same time? Surat district in Gujarat recorded at least nine deaths and more than 3,500 evacuations after record rainfall over two days, Hindustan Times reported on July 8. The report said Surat received 358 mm of rain in 24 hours, disrupting transport, closing schools and prompting large-scale rescues. (houstonpublicmedia.org) China’s emergency authorities also raised the national disaster response for flood-hit Guangxi to Level III, according to Xinhua. The state news agency said severe flooding had affected places including Nanning and Guigang. ### What should Texans watch next? (hindustantimes.com) August 6 is the next dated milestone in Texas’ mitigation process, with public comments due to the General Land Office by 5 p.m. that day. After that deadline, the agency said it would review the submissions and send the amendment to HUD for final approval, while Abbott’s office said additional counties could still be added to the disaster declaration if conditions warrant. (glo.texas.gov 1) (glo.texas.gov 2)