Texas Governor Declares 31 Counties As Disaster Areas

AUSTIN, TX -- After the wettest May on record for parts of Texas, the governor on Wednesday has declared 31 counties to be disaster areas.

In declaring a region a natural disaster area, Gov. Greg Abbott makes those regions eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aid. In his official declaration, Abbott cites the climactic event of May 26 that was marked with severe weather and flooding.

As a result, Abbott has made the disaster declaration on the following counties: Austin; Bandera; Bastrop; Brazoria; Brazos; Burleson; Coleman; Colorado; Erath; Fayette; Fort Bend; Grimes; Hidalgo; Hood; Jasper; Kleberg; Lee; Leon; Liberty; Lubbock; Montgomery; Palo Pinto; Parker; Polk; Robertson; San Jacinto; Tyler; Walker; Washington; and Wharton.

The action marks the second time in as many months that Abbott has declared certain regions to be disaster areas. In April, the governor declared 16 counties to be disaster areas as a result of severe weather.

In the April 18 declaration, Abbott singled out Harris County as among the most affected by severe weather -- especially Houston, slammed with more than 17 inches of rain in a 24-hour period.

In addition to Harris, Abbott in April declared disaster areas in the counties of Austin, Bastrop, Fort Bend, Colorado, Grimes, Harris, Montgomery, Waller and Wharton. A few days later, he added more counties to the list: Bosque, Fayette, Liberty, Milam, Palo Pinto, Parker, and San Jacinto Counties to his April 18th disaster declaration following severe weather and flooding in those parts of Texas.