Gov. Greg Abbott announced Oct. 30 that the federal government has approved Texas’ appeal for Federal Emergency Management Agency Individual Assistance program funding following severe storms and flooding that affected communities across the state in July, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
The release said the approval follows an announcement from President Donald J. Trump this week that his administration would make additional FEMA relief available after the July storms. It also follows an appeal submitted by the State of Texas through the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
“President Trump has approved Texas’ appeal for FEMA Individual Assistance after the July storms and flooding,” Abbott said. “This brings essential financial assistance and services to eligible Texans in the 20 approved counties. I thank President Trump for his leadership and for this additional support for Texas families.”
According to the release, the 20 counties now approved are Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Crockett, Dimmit, Frio, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, Medina, Real, Schleicher, Sutton, Uvalde, Val Verde and Zavala.
Texans can apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362, the governor’s office said. The Individual Assistance program provides eligible Texans with financial assistance and services for disaster-related expenses, including temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment assistance, and medical, dental and funeral expenses.
The release said an appeal to FEMA for Hazard Mitigation grant program funding remains pending. The governor’s office also listed other actions taken in response to the July storms, including securing approval of a Major Disaster Declaration, obtaining a suspension of federal tax deadlines for affected Texans and businesses, and communicating the further extension of SNAP replacement benefits for Texans affected by flooding.