Abbott declares 101-county disaster

Governor Greg Abbott’s June 15 disaster declaration for 101 counties did two things at once: it responded to an immediate weather threat and underscored how much of Texas is still operating in the shadow of the July 2025 floods. The order said ongoing storms and flood risks justified opening the full range of state resources to local officials and communities. In the weeks since, state agencies, lawmakers and local groups have pointed to a mix of emergency response, new planning mandates and private fundraising as Texas enters another flood season. A year after the Hill Country disaster that killed 139 people, residents in Kerr County told Houston Public Media they are more alert and better prepared than they were before the Guadalupe River flood. ### What did Abbott’s declaration actually do? Abbott’s June 15 order covered 101 counties and said additional counties could be added if conditions warranted. The governor said the declaration was needed because of “ongoing storms and flood risks” and would ensure local officials could access state support and emergency resources. The Texas Division of Emergency Management said the declaration came as severe storms threatened heavy rainfall, flash flooding and other hazards across broad parts of the state. Houston Public Media reported that counties in the Houston area, including Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston and Montgomery, were among those covered. (gov.texas.gov) ### Why is the order landing differently this year? July 2025 remains the reference point for many Texas communities. Houston Public Media reported that the Texas Legislature moved after those floods to require emergency plans in flood-prone counties, and residents in Kerr County said the disaster changed how they watch the river and react to warnings. (houstonpublicmedia.org) Kerr County resident Miles Murayama told Houston Public Media that “people’s radar is on” and that neighbors have become more proactive. The outlet said residents interviewed one year after the July 4 flood described greater awareness of the Guadalupe River’s danger, even as many said they had not considered leaving the area. (houstonpublicmedia.org) ### What changes did lawmakers make after the 2025 floods? The Texas Water Development Board says Senate Bill 3 was one of several measures passed after the July 2025 floods to improve preparedness. The board says the law relates to outdoor warning sirens in flash flood-prone areas, and Abbott signed it on September 5, 2025. Houston Public Media reported separately that lawmakers also approved requirements for emergency plans in flood-prone counties. (houstonpublicmedia.org) The article linked those steps directly to the state’s effort to prepare vulnerable areas for future disasters after the Hill Country flooding. ### Where is mitigation planning moving now? (twdb.texas.gov) The Texas General Land Office this week opened a 30-day public comment period on Amendment 5 to its Mitigation State Action Plan. The agency said the amendment would create a Mitigation Reallocation Program using unutilized and deobligated federal mitigation funds to support projects intended to reduce future disaster risk. (houstonpublicmedia.org) Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said the program would promote “long-term resilience” by giving communities a chance to pursue projects that reduce risks from future disasters. The General Land Office said comments can be submitted until 5 p.m. on August 6, 2026, before the amendment goes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for final approval. (glo.texas.gov) ### How much private money has gone into recovery? A report released this week by the Central Texas Community Foundation said local efforts generated $9.4 million in donations for people affected by the July 2025 floods. Community Impact reported that the Round Rock-based nonprofit described the figure as part of its one-year accounting of recovery support. (glo.texas.gov) KVUE reported that the money was distributed as direct, unrestricted assistance for needs including housing repairs, transportation and funeral expenses not covered by insurance or other programs. That private funding sits alongside the state’s emergency and mitigation efforts as communities continue rebuilding. (communityimpact.com) ### What happens next for counties and residents? August 6 is the next formal date in the state process, when public comments on the General Land Office’s mitigation amendment are due. After that, the agency said it will review responses and submit the amendment to HUD for approval. The Texas Water Development Board is also implementing Senate Bill 3, while counties covered by Abbott’s declaration remain eligible for state support as weather threats continue. (kvue.com) For residents in places such as Kerr County, the next step is less formal: watching forecasts, evacuation plans and warning systems more closely than they did a year ago, according to Houston Public Media’s reporting. (twdb.texas.gov) (glo.texas.gov)