Letter to the Hon. Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas - Request FEMA Disaster Declaration for Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend

Letter

Dear Governor Abbott,

I hope this letter finds you well. I would like to thank you for your declaration of six South Texas counties as areas of disaster following last week's heavy rainfall and severe flooding. This flooding, which began on June 19 and continued for several days, affected about one million Texans, numerous communities, and hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses in the Rio Grande Valley and the Coastal Bend.

As we continue to assess the hundreds of millions in damages caused by the aforementioned flooding and begin to rebuild, it is critical that federal funds be made available for reconstruction and recovery efforts. Accordingly, I am writing to ask that you request a disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and President Donald J. Trump.

Last week's historic flooding resulted in water levels as high as seven feet. The property damage resulting from the flooding that affected homes, businesses, roads, and streets, caused irreparable damage to other public and private property. I urge you to start the process and contact FEMA and request a joint Federal, State Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA). Local leaders should also be included in this process to assist efforts, and provide as much real time, and accurate information as possible. Absent a formal request to FEMA and the President, federal assistance cannot be made available to the victims of this horrific disaster. It is my belief that we are responsible for providing those affected by this devastation with all available resources in order to expedite the process of rebuilding.

The level of property damage and danger to life and limb warranted a declaration of disaster from you; and I now respectfully request that you follow through and request federal assistance for the many Texans overwhelmed by this flood.

According to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207 (the Stafford Act) §401, the governor of a state affected by a natural disaster has to request a disaster declaration from FEMA.

Should you have any questions, or need more information about this tragic occurrence, please contact me at (202) 225-2531.

Sincerely,

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