Texas Governor Perry Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration as Extreme Wildfire Danger Continues

Feb. 02, 2008 -- AUSTIN – In a letter sent to President George W. Bush, Texas Governor Rick Perry today requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the State of Texas as a result of widespread wildfires and continuing fire danger across the state. The governor identified 184 Texas counties presently threatened or impacted by wildfires. To date, 75 wildfires have burned approximately 70,000 acres and destroyed 60 homes and structures.

“Texas is thankful to the brave men and women from fire departments across the state who are battling these fires on the front lines,” said Gov. Perry. “As wildfires continue to rage across our state, Texas is reaching its capacity to respond to these emergencies and is in need of federal assistance.”

A Presidential Disaster Declaration makes the state eligible for financial assistance from the federal government. Texas’ Presidential Disaster Declaration request includes:

§ Individual Assistance including the Individual & Households Program, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, and Small Business Administration Disaster Loans and U.S. Department of Agriculture loans;

§ Public Assistance, which includes debris removal, emergency protective measures and repair of damage to public structures; and

§ Hazard Mitigation statewide, which entails actions to strengthen infrastructure against future disasters.

A series of fronts producing high wind and low humidity has moved across the state, creating extremely dry conditions favorable for wildfires, which are expected to continue through next week.

“I urge all Texans to continue to exercise great caution at this time, and observe burn bans and other warnings to ensure the safety of themselves and their families,” said Gov. Perry.

Gov. Perry activated firefighting resources from around the state, including 10 UH-60 helicopters and 2 CH-47 helicopters, to aid local officials in response efforts.

Additionally, Gov. Perry authorized the utilization of the following resources:

§ Texas Forest Service established an area command in Granbury to coordinate response in North Texas, and deploy air attack resources to the area. An additional six aircraft were requested from the U.S. Forest Service.

§ Civil Air Patrol was activated to provide air reconnaissance as requested to support firefighting operations.

§ Volunteer organizations, including the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, are providing shelter and assistance where needed.

§ Texas Department of Transportation is providing fuel support for volunteer fire departments and is using its messaging signs to alert the public of the fire danger.

Additionally, the governor amended his original disaster proclamation, issued Tuesday, January 29, to include Bailey, Blanco, Borden, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Callahan, Cherokee, Coleman, Collin, Dawson, Duval, Falls, Floyd, Gaines, Gillespie, Glasscock, Gonzales, Hopkins, Houston, Jack, Lubbock, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Reeves, Rusk, Terrell, Walker, Williamson and Zapata counties.

The State Operations Center remains at the highest level of activation to monitor the situation. The Governor’s Division of Emergency Management is coordinating state support for local officials.

Source: Texas Governor

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