WASHINGTON, NEIGHBORING COUNTIES INCLUDED IN FLOODING DISASTER DECLARATION

  

Washington County and all surrounding counties are now included in the state’s disaster declaration for storms and flooding, which now covers more than a third of all 254 counties in Texas.

The initial declaration on Tuesday listed 29 counties and primarily focused on East Texas.  Grimes County was the only county adjacent to Washington County that was part of the original declaration, but on Thursday Governor Greg Abbott added 59 counties to bring the total up to 88, among them being Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Fayette, Lee, Waller, and Washington.

Abbott said the expansion of the declaration was to include counties in at-risk areas, so that any communities that have been or could be impacted by the severe weather are able to receive the support and resources they need to recover.

The National Weather Service is forecasting extreme river flooding for Central and East Texas river basins.  River impacts across major river basins are expected to continue through next week, meaning river flooding threats will persist through that time.

First responders have assisted with multiple high-water rescues in Central and Southeast Texas.  State transportation and law enforcement personnel have also helped with road closures and sandbagging efforts.  Many school districts were forced to alter their schedules due to the weather. 

The Texas State Emergency Operations Center is running at Level II (Escalated Response), with 24-hour emergency management council operations, to support requests for state assistance from local officials in impacted areas.