Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for South Texas because of flooding that has devastated portions of South Texas.
The counties included in the Saturday declaration are Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy. The governor said more counties may be added to that list.
"I thank the first responders and emergency management teams for their swift response to deploy critical resources and assistance to local communities to save lives from severe weather threats across the state, including the wildfire danger in West Texas," the Governor said in a statement.
"Texans are urged to monitor the weather, make an emergency plan, and heed the guidance of state and local officials to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown."
He added that the state Emergency Operations Center is at a high level of activation to coordinate responses to potential disasters, including severe weather threats this weekend in the northern and eastern portions of the state, and a lingering wildfire threat to most portions of West Texas.
"Texans impacted by this week’s storms are encouraged to report damages to homes and businesses through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) at damage.tdem.texas.gov. Submitting a damage report helps state and local officials assess the full scope of the disaster and determine what additional resources may be needed for affected communities. The information provided is crucial in identifying whether the state meets federal requirements for various forms of disaster assistance, " Abbott said.