Texas is getting federal help to rebuild after deadly July floods and severe weather.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Sept. 3 that President Donald Trump approved 19 counties in the state for federal disaster assistance under a major disaster declaration, freeing up Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources
"I thank President Trump for his approval of this Major Disaster Declaration," Abbott said in a statement. "Federal public assistance is now available in 19 Texas counties damaged by the July storms and floods. Local officials will now have needed resources to recover and rebuild. Texas will deliver every available resource to affected communities."
FEMA has approved its Public Assistance program for the 19 counties; however, Abbott's
request for FEMA's Individual Assistance program for 30 affected counties remains pending.
The Public Assistance program, according to the governor's office, includes assistance for emergency work and repairing or replacing disaster-damaged facilities. The Individual Assistance program, by contrast, funds expenses such as temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment assistance, and medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the disaster.
Texas' additional request to authorize additional FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program resources statewide remains pending.
In a statement, FEMA named Roland Jackson as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas, noting that it may make additional designations if the state requests them and further damage assessments warrant them.
FEMA funding for 19 Texas counties
FEMA announced that Public Assistance program funding is available for the following 19 counties affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding on July 12, 2026, and continuing:
- Bandera
- Crockett
- Dimmit
- Edwards
- Frio
- Gillespie
- Kendall
- Kerr
- Kimble
- Kinney
- La Salle
- Mason
- Maverick
- Menard
- Real
- Sutton
- Uvalde
- Val Verde
- Zavala
Residents in the affected counties can learn more about federal disaster assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump approves FEMA aid for 19 Texas counties hit by July floods
