(CNN) — US President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Texas, unlocking more federal resources to help the state.
“Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that there is a major disaster in the state of Texas and ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas affected by severe winter storms beginning on Sept. 11. February 2021 and continuing, ”the White House said in a written statement Saturday.
Biden already approved an emergency declaration for the state last weekend, but the major disaster declaration would allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide more resources and assistance. This includes, for example, supplemental insurance to help people with uncovered costs or other costs to build livable homes.
The assistance, according to a FEMA news release, includes “grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster”.
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Biden met with Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton on Friday and expressed his intention to sign the statement, which stems from a request from Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Governor Abbott thanked President Biden for approving the major disaster declaration for Texas, but noted that the declaration was less than what he asked for.
“I thank President Biden for his assistance as we respond to the impacts of winter weather on our state,” Abbott said in his statement.
“While this partial approval is an important first step, Texas will continue to work with our federal partners to ensure that all eligible Texans have access to the relief they need,” he added.
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Abbott had applied for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance in all 254 Texas counties, according to its statement. However, both he and the Biden administration noted that only 77 counties were ultimately approved for Individual Assistance.
Individual Assistance makes federal funds available to individuals in the form of grants for temporary housing and home repairs or low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, according to the White House statement.
Neither Abbott nor Biden explained the basis for the discrepancy.
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