Texas Governor Perry Requests Federal Disaster Declarations for Seven Counties

Jun. 22, 2007 -- AUSTIN – Texas Governor Rick Perry today requested that President George W. Bush declare major disaster areas for Bosque, Cooke, Coryell, Denton, Grayson, Lampasas, and Tarrant counties due to severe storms, flooding and tornado damage in North Texas that occurred from June 16 through June 18, 2007. The governor has asked for an expedited declaration.

On Tuesday, the governor issued a state disaster proclamation for Cooke, Grayson, Lampasas and Tarrant counties due to the heavy damage sustained in these communities as a result of the storms. He added Bosque, Coryell and Denton counties to that proclamation today.

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Perry also met with local officials and toured the impacted areas in North Texas earlier this week.

“Recent storms have devastated the communities in North Texas, sadly taking lives and homes in the storms’ path,” Perry said. “I am committed to working with state and federal emergency agencies to secure assistance that will help these families and businesses recover and bring about a sense of normalcy as quickly as possible.”

If a federal disaster declaration is granted, it could provide federal grants for individuals and families, disaster housing, disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling and Small Business Administration disaster loans. Assistance also may be made available for debris removal and hazard mitigation projects, and loans may be made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and coordinated by the Division of Emergency Management.

Source: Texas Governor