In response to the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the State of Texas has formally requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Individual Assistance program for 15 affected counties. The program aims to provide additional funding and support to assist Texans in their recovery efforts.

Governor Abbott expressed his commitment to ensuring that all necessary resources are deployed to help affected Texans and communities recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Beryl. He stated that the request for FEMA's Individual Assistance program is intended to provide Texans with access to vital funding that will cover the expenses caused by this disaster.

Acting Governor Dan Patrick, in collaboration with Chief Nim Kidd of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, has petitioned FEMA to grant eligibility for Individual Assistance for qualifying individuals in Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker, and Wharton counties. Additional counties may also be included later, pending further damage assessments.

If approved, the FEMA Individual Assistance program will provide financial assistance for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment assistance, and medical, dental, and funeral expenses incurred as a result of the hurricane.

Acting Governor Patrick has further requested that the federal government modify the incident period for Hurricane Beryl by designating it as a "continuing" event. This request comes as the state continues its comprehensive response and recovery efforts. The state and local partners are working diligently to protect life and property.

To augment the local disaster response efforts, Acting Governor Patrick, along with Chief Kidd, announced a new initiative in Houston. This initiative will bring law enforcement personnel from across the state to support local law enforcement in addressing the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. The Texas Department of Public Safety has already deployed 80 state troopers to the Houston area.

The State of Texas remains fully engaged in responding to the needs of impacted communities. State emergency response resources, including personnel and supplies such as generators, tarps, fuel, ready-to-eat meals, water, and ice, continue to be delivered en masse. So far, over 1,723,600 bottles of water, more than 218,875 ready-to-eat meals, and more than 15,485 bags of ice have been distributed to affected areas.

The State of Texas demonstrates a steadfast commitment to providing all available resources to support local communities affected by Hurricane Beryl. The collaborative efforts between state and local partners will persist until every Texan has fully recovered from this disaster.