Texas Governor Greg Abbott is calling the storms in North Texas one of the worst to hit the region on record. The governor says the rain totals in Dallas yesterday were the second highest in recorded history. He promises Texas is providing all cities the support they need while also signing a disaster declaration. Around 100 homes were damaged by rain and floodwaters in North Texas and a 60-year-old woman drowned.
During the press conference, the Governor thanked emergency management personnel and first responders, as well as state and local officials, for their quick, effective response to this historic flooding event. The Governor also outlined resources the State of Texas has deployed in the Dallas-Forth Worth area and other regions of the state in its severe weather and flood response.
"No challenge is too great for Texans to address, and I commend Mayor Johnson, the City of Dallas, and emergency response personnel for their prolific life-saving response to yesterday's unprecedented flooding event in North Texas," said Governor Abbott. "The State of Texas will be ready and available to help all impacted communities every step of the way as they begin to navigate the recovery process in the aftermath of this storm. I ask Texans to join Cecilia and me in prayer for all communities affected by this severe weather and for the family and loved ones of Jolene Jarrell who lost her life in the flooding."
Abbott is hoping the federal government will provide assistance to flooded out North Texas. The governor told reporters he had a talk with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell who expressed worry about low-income homeowners being more affected by the flooding. Abbott thinks this year's situation is much different than the 2019 tornado because most of the homes damaged by the twister were insured. About 100 homes were damaged by rain and floodwaters yesterday.
The following counties are included in the Governor’s disaster declaration, with additional counties added as needed: Camp, Culberson, Dallas, Duval, Ellis, El Paso, Henderson, Hopkins, Hudspeth, Kaufman, Kerr, Live Oak, Marion, Montague, Navarro, Pecos, Rains, Smith, Tarrant, Upshur, Van Zandt, Webb, and Wood.