Harvey: Rep. Brady Secures Disaster Declaration For Montgomery County

THE WOODLANDS, TX — U.S. Rep Kevin Brady said Wednesday that Montgomery County would receive a federal disaster declaration order, allowing residents to apply for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Texas Republican met with President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott in Austin on Tuesday and got support from both for a disaster declaration for Montgomery County, which was not included in the original declaration. (For more hurricane news or local news from Houston, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Houston Patch, and click here to find your local Texas Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

“Our community has fought through Hurricanes Rita, Ike and the Tax Day Flood last year, and nothing compares to this (Harvey),” Brady told Patch. “We have flooded where we have never flooded before. It’s just an historic and unprecedented event.”

Watch: How Harvey Relief Could Help — Or Hinder — Congress' Budget Deals

As the rain began falling in Montgomery County, County Judge Craig Doyal signed a request for disaster declaration, asking that Abbott include Montgomery County with other counties to receive FEMA assistance.

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Disaster assistance from FEMA may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses and other Harvey-related expenses, such as medical, dental and funeral expenses.

Brady said he expects that the bill for disaster relief, which will be presented next week, will receive strong bipartisan support.

Meanwhile, first responders and elected officials in Montgomery County have worked around the clock since Harvey made landfall on Aug. 25 and battered the Texas Gulf Coast with torrential rains over the next five days.

“In the face of this disaster and horrible devastation, we are also seeing acts of heroism on a daily basis,” Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said. “We saw people jumping in boats and saving lives over and over and over again. I think the character of Houston, who we are as a city, and who we are as a state is coming out loud and clear., and its inspirational.”

One of those was Brady’s 18-year old son, Will Brady, who took a boat out with some of his friends to help rescue others while his father was in Austin meeting with Trump and Abbott.

In Montgomery County, first responders conducted more than 1,300 high-water rescues and sheltered more than 1,100 residents during Harvey’s relentless onslaught.

Even though the rain has stopped falling in Houston and the sun is shining, Montgomery County is still in rescue mode.

Brady said while the disaster declaration helps out Montgomery County, he is talking with administration officials to expand it to Grimes, Walker, Madison and Trinity counties as well.

Brady says he is grateful that the communities are beginning to shift from rescue mode to relief and recovery, and getting back in their homes.

Those who need disaster assistance can apply online at www.disasterassistance.com, or call 800-621-3362.

Images: Congressional Portrait: U.S. Rep Kevin Brady

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