As hurricane Laura heads towards a possible landfall on the Texas coast, Governor Greg Abbott issued a state disaster declaration and requested an Emergency Declaration from President Trump and FEMA for Public Assistance Category B (Emergency Protective Measures), Direct Federal Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
In a Tuesday press conference, Gov. Abbott mentioned that it looks as if the hurricane could be a "Category 3" hurricane at landfall in Texas, "but we need to prepare for it to be a Category 4 hurricane" said Abbott.
Counties included in the state disaster declaration include Aransas, Bexar, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, and Willacy.
The Governor said he is making additional disaster declaration for 36 additional counties in Texas, including Dallas County, where evacuation shelters will be open to the public.
Voluntary evacuations have already started in some areas of southeast Texas, and mandatory evacuations are already underway in the cities of Beaumont, Galveston and Port Arthur.
FEMA has come through with the Emergency Declaration for the 23 Texas counties that would direct Federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care including evacuation and shelter support at 75 percent federal funding.
"Texas is grateful to President Trump and our partners at FEMA for quickly granting this Federal Emergency Declaration," said Governor Abbott. "As hurricane Laura head towards the coast, the State of Texas is working with local and federal partners to ensure our communities have the resources they need to respond to these storms."
Governor Abbott announced that he had also mobilized the Texas National Guard for evacuation assistance and that a "massive increase" of DPS and law enforcement will be in the evacuated areas to help protect private property.
A press release sent out by the Governor explained how more than 70 members with the Texas Army, Air National Guards, and Texas State Guard with the Texas Military Department (TMD) were activated and being prepositioned throughout the state ahead of hurricane Laura.
“The state is mobilizing the Texas National Guard to assist local, state, and federal officials in response to these storms," said Governor Abbott. "As the situation develops, it is imperative that Texans who live on the Gulf Coast and in Southeast Texas pay close attention to weather alerts and heed warnings from local officials. Property and belongings can be restored, but lives cannot. I call on all Texans who may be in harm’s way to put their safety and their family’s lives above all else and adhere to the guidance and warnings from emergency management officials."
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