Federal aid granted to county governments in North Texas following major storms

Fifteen counties have been newly added to Texas’ list seeking assistance due to severe weather and flooding that began on April 26.

The latest counties to receive federal disaster assistance include Bosque, Cooke, Fannin, Hamilton, Henderson, Kaufman, Rockwall, and Van Zandt. The announcement was made on Tuesday morning by the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM).

“At Governor Abbott’s direction, TDEM requested FEMA to include these counties in the Federal Disaster Declaration to ensure communities affected by severe weather receive the financial aid needed for recovery and rebuilding,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “I thank FEMA for collaborating with Texas emergency management officials to provide essential resources following the spring’s severe weather. TDEM will continue working with local authorities to ensure communities and Texans get the necessary support throughout the recovery process.”

While FEMA initially offered assistance to homeowners shortly after the storms, the latest round of federal aid focuses on repairing and rebuilding public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and parks.

County leaders in North Texas reported damages totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to Kaufman County’s Emergency Management Coordinator, Steve Howie, federal assistance was crucial to avoid potentially years-long delays in repairs.

“It has been a monumental task,” Howie said. “We needed to surpass a $668,426 threshold for the declaration of public assistance.”

Damage assessments conducted by state military personnel far exceeded this threshold. “The numbers we submitted are close to three million dollars,” Howie stated. “The Texas State Guard, deployed through TDEM, played a crucial role by assisting with damage assessments and debris estimation.”

For Kaufman County, the immediate priority is clearing debris in communities like College Mound, approximately five miles southeast of Terrell. “A lot of debris needs to be cut up and cleared,” Howie emphasized.

Among the significant projects is the reconstruction of Valley View Road north of Forney, which suffered from water saturation beneath the asphalt surface, making it unsafe for traffic. “Commissioner Skeet Phillips was concerned it could collapse under the weight of a vehicle,” Howie noted. As of Tuesday afternoon, the road remains closed.

Despite the significant costs involved, FEMA’s financial assistance, covering 75% of the expenses, provides relief to counties like Kaufman.

“It’s a tremendous relief because FEMA will now provide funding,” Howie said. “With a 75-25 split, we can afford to manage and clean up this debris.”

With the addition of these counties to the Public Assistance Program, TDEM announced that 63 counties are now eligible to apply for various forms of federal disaster aid. FEMA is still reviewing 26 additional counties for potential inclusion in the program.