Washington, D.C. -Washington, D.C. -  U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) urged the White House in phone calls to top Administration officials to issue a federal disaster declaration for East and Southeast Texas due to the regional flooding brought on by excessive rainfall starting on October 15.  The federal disaster declaration would make local communities eligible for federal disaster aid. 

 

"After touring the area and seeing washed out roads, and bridges floated off their piers, the damage and cost to East and Southeast Texas due to this excessive rainfall and flooding is greater than most federal authorities realize.  These communities just received the money they needed to dig out from under Hurricane Rita, they can't afford to get back in the hole with flooding like this," said Brady who represents the regions most affected by the flooding.

 

Brady's call to the White House was in support of Texas Governor Rick Perry's request that Brazoria, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto and Tyler counties all be included in the federal disaster declaration.

 

According to preliminary damage assessments by teams of the Governor's Division of Emergency Management and local jurisdictions, several hundred homes have been affected by the floods.   

 

If a federal disaster declaration is granted, it could provide federal grants for individuals and families, disaster housing, disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling and Small Business Administration disaster loans. Assistance also may be made available for debris removal and hazard mitigation projects, and loans may be made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and coordinated by the Division of Emergency Management.