Letter to President Donald Trump - Request Federal Disaster Assistance for South Texas

Letter

Dear President Trump,

This is our second letter to you on this matter, and we request your utmost attention. It is imperative to the safety and security of over one million Texans that we immediately provide the Rio Grande Valley and the Coastal Bend as well as affected areas in Texas support and relief from the severe weather and flooding event that began on June 19, 2018. Our Governor, Greg Abbott, has completed and forwarded to your attention the necessary request, and Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA). The damage caused by these storms has surpassed the threshold necessary for disaster declaration in the following: Aransas, Brooks, Cameron, Duval, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, Nueces, San Patricio, Starr, and Willacy Counties.

This deluge has affected the Rio Grande Valley, located in South Texas, and spans several Congressional Districts. Water levels have been recorded as high as seven feet in some areas. This weather event caused serious devastation, including damages to public property, homes, businesses, roads, streets, and loss of property. The level of property damage, and danger to life and limb warranted a declaration of disaster from Governor Abbott.

I would ask that you direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to exercise all the authority vested in it through the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207 (the Stafford Act) §401, to expedite a disaster declaration.

Once the disaster declaration is made through FEMA, I ask that you make resources, including federal funds, available to these South Texas counties as soon as possible as we work together to recover and rebuild. I have included a copy of Governor Abbott's Proclamation of a state of disaster.

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

Most respectfully,

Source