Governor Greg Abbott has updated his disaster declaration to include 26 counties in Texas, added FEMA to the Public Assistance program for three additional counties, and directed the state's ongoing flood response and recovery efforts.

Governor Greg Abbott has expanded the Texas disaster declaration to include five more counties after flooding, bringing the total to 26 and ensuring state aid.

Cuts made to the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Trump administration severely impaired its ability to respond to the devastating floods in central Texas.

As initial search-and-rescue operations in the July 4 catastrophic Texas flooding started to recede, new reporting emerged that the federal response had been delayed by a new budget rule imposed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Just weeks ago, President Donald Trump said he wanted to begin “phasing out” the Federal Emergency Management Agency after this hurricane season to “wean off of FEMA” and “bring it down to the state level.

Weeks before flash floods devastated the Texas Hill Country, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) participated in the first meeting of a new council to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He criticized FEMA as “slow and clunky,” arguing that states are able to respond “more nimbly, more swiftly, more effectively” to disasters.

Many victims of the recent flooding did not have flood insurance when water washed away homes, cars and belongings.

Williamson County and FEMA announced they will soon open a Disaster Recovery Center for residents impacted by floods in early July.