Governor Abbott Requests Federal Disaster Assistance For Three Additional Counties Following Summer Severe Storms And Flooding

September 4, 2026 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

Governor Greg Abbott today directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to request that Grimes, Live Oak, and McMullen counties be added to President Donald J. Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration following the July severe storms and flooding that impacted communities across Texas.

“As communities across Texas navigate the aftermath of severe weather and flooding, we must ensure Texans have the resources they need to recover,” said Governor Abbott. “Today, I requested that additional counties be added to President Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration to help deliver aid to affected areas.”

A review of damage assessments in Grimes, Live Oak, and McMullen counties shows they exceed federal criteria for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance program, which includes assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Additional counties may be requested as updated information becomes available. With this request, the following counties are pending approval for FEMA Public Assistance: Atascosa, Bexar, Blanco, Brewster, Comal, Grimes, Live Oak, McMullen, Medina, Schleicher, Terrell, and Wilson.

The Governor’s request for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program for 30 affected counties remains pending. Additionally, a request from Texas to authorize additional FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program resources statewide remains pending.

Governor Abbott continues to take action to provide all available resources to support communities impacted by the July severe storms and flooding, including:

• Securing approval of a Major Disaster Declaration following storm impacts
• Announcing the extension of SNAP replacement benefits for Texans affected by flooding
• Amending the state’s disaster declaration to include additional impacted counties and providing an update in Cotulla on the state’s emergency response in affected areas
• Providing an update in Uvalde on the state’s flood response
• Issuing a state disaster declaration, increasing the readiness level of the Texas State Emergency Operations Center (SOC) to 24-hour operations at Level II (Escalated Response) and activating additional state emergency response resources as heavy rainfall and flash flooding threats continued 
• Deploying state emergency response resources ahead of the severe weather and flash flooding threat