In a major development, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. has declared a state of major disaster in Texas and has authorized Federal aid to assist in the recovery efforts. The declaration comes in response to severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that have devastated the state since April 26, 2024.

This Presidential action unlocks Federal funding to support affected individuals and communities in various counties. The counties covered by the declaration include Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker. Residents and business owners in these areas will have access to a range of assistance programs designed to facilitate recovery from the disaster's impact.

Among the available aid options are grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other financial support programs. Additionally, funding on a cost-sharing basis will be provided for statewide hazard mitigation measures. This will help in enhancing the resilience of affected areas against future similar events.

To oversee and coordinate the Federal recovery operations, Mr. Benjamin Abbott of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed. As damage assessments are ongoing in other areas, there is a possibility of additional counties and forms of assistance being included once the assessments are complete.

Affected residents and business owners are encouraged to apply for assistance through various channels. This can be done online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by utilizing the FEMA App. To ensure accessibility, individuals using relay services such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service can provide the number of their respective service to FEMA.

The approval of this disaster declaration by President Biden underscores the Federal government's commitment to supporting Texas in its recovery efforts. It offers a lifeline to those who have suffered losses due to the severe weather conditions and aims to provide the necessary resources for individuals and businesses to rebuild and regain stability.