Obama signs Texas disaster declaration

[TexasTowelie]

Source: Austin American-Statesman

President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration for Texas after severe flooding this week.

The White House said Obama declared that he ordered federal aid to supplement other recovery efforts in the area affected by severe weather since May 4.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had earlier requested a presidential disaster declaration to get federal help for the counties affected.

Obama’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Harris, Hays, and Van Zandt counties.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/weather/obama-signs-texas-disaster-declaration/nmRYr/

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Cross-posted in the Texas Group.

[project_bluebook]

1. Damned communist!

[still_one]

2. So I guess Texas is staying in the union

[Vinca]

3. Aren't they worried the Jade Helm people will show up to help?

[catrose]

4. Thank you, Obama

And if you want to post a big cash register with a running total or rising thermometer or some similar graphic so that everyone can see it on your website or TV, that's totally okay and not a bad idea at all.

[damyank913]

5. I smelling a double standard here...

...didn't Senator Ted Cruz vote against helping out the victims of "Sandy" up north?

[TexasBushwhacker]

8. I'm no fan of Cruz or Cornyn

but their objection to the Sandy funding was because of a lot of non-Sandy pork added to the bill.

[cstanleytech]

9. Long as they pay for it by making cuts by say closing some of the military bases in texas I

no problem with aid being provided.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. Except

much of it was for replenishing the depleted disaster and flood insurance funds, and for disaster mitigation by multiple agencies for the future like what happened this past winter and what is happening now in Texas and Oklahoma. If that one earthen dam that was shown near breach, actually did breach (given the El Nino pattern), then they will be blaming the Army Corps of Engineers and demanding ways to mitigate in the future (which was part of the point of some of the funds in the Sandy relief package). Which is why the GOP is peopled by rank hypocrites. They can't think beyond the moment.

[TexasBushwhacker]

14. We have a couple of dams on Houston's west side

that could blow at any time. They are considered 2 of the top 6 worst dams in the country. Here's an article about them.

http://www.houstonpress.com/news/if-the-addicks-and-barker-dams-fail-6594886

I don't know how many repairs have been made since this was written, but I know there is a lot more concrete on the west side.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. And apparently

an article I read indicated temp patches along those dams until reconstruction can happen. I was last in Houston and Galveston about 20 years ago and the open flat landscape means far-reaching damage if it floods. And I know that Galveston is still rebuilding after Hurricane Ike. It's just sad and I hope it won't be all for naught there given the weather pattern.

Also hope that cooler heads will prevail in Congress to fund infrastructure, which should include those dams along with the bridges and roads that are failing left and right.

[TexasBushwhacker]

17. Well, I just found out that major repairs on those

2 dams ($70 to $100 Million) were scheduled to start THIS MONTH - Of course, I'm no engineer, but I question the wisdom of starting major repairs during HURRICANE SEASON!

As for Galveston, I guess you just have to assume that hurricanes are going to happen, it's just a question of when. You're never going to get people to stop living by the shore. The thing that's amazing to me is that even with extreme warnings from the NWS including the words "certain death", only 60 % of the people evacuated from areas that had mandatory evacuation orders. It's s miracle only 40 or so died. Of course many of the 40% who stayed were poor people with no place to go and no money to get somewhere if they did. But there are plenty that stay behind with their shotguns in their laps to protect their homes from looters. I say take my shit - PLEASE. Here's they key. I am GTFO.

[TexasTowelie]

20. The good news is that Barker is only at 7% full and Addicks is at 6%.

Here is an app to keep up with reservoir levels around the state.

BTW, it has been raining for about two hours here in Wharton. The river was supposed to crest this morning, but I didn't go out to check. There were some stupid people out in the swimming pool while there was lightning in the vicinity. The worst part is that they haven't cleaned the swimming pool in over a year and they aren't chlorinating it either so my brother might get some bacterial meningitis patients and other water-borne illness at the hospital in the future.

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. Yeah I checked the levels online

They're both for drainage only, so normally they're pretty close to dry. I noticed all the water supply reservoirs in the east half the state are are full, some at 100%.

How do people have access to the pool? Don't they have a fence with a locked gate? Our pool was open for business last weekend. The water looks sparkling, but of course that doesn't mean it's microbe free.

[TexasTowelie]

24. These are adults that are somehow getting in the pool area.

It is reasonably easy to get in since the fence is only four feet high at most. I don't think that I've ever see a lock on the gates either. I'm not in a position to make any complaints or express any concerns since I'm not officially on the lease, but the apartment complex will probably have to be sued before they learn any lessons. The apartment complex is owned by a local woman and her sister is the office manager and it is pretty much of a slum.

[BronxBoy]

28. Yeah....

Like what???

[TexasBushwhacker]

30. Too lazy to google for yourself?

Okay, here's one article, but there are many more.

http://nypost.com/2012/12/15/obama-sandy-aid-bill-filled-with-holiday-goodies-unrelated-to-storm-damage/

"The pork-barrel feast includes more than $8 million to buy cars and equipment for the Homeland Security and Justice departments. It also includes a whopping $150 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to dole out to fisheries in Alaska and $2 million for the Smithsonian Institution to repair museum roofs in DC."

[BronxBoy]

31. Not as lazy....

As someone who drops a steaming load if right wing bullshit without a single citation and who has no problem making excuses for two of the most right wing assholes out there. Hell, your link comes from the Murdoch owned NY Post for Christsakes

Stop defending hypocrisy and be glad that in Texas's time of need, no one is playing politics

[HooptieWagon]

6. Deliver the disaster aid in black helicopters...

...and use the closed WalMarts as warehouse/pick up locations. That'll sure mess with the wingnut's heads...

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

19. Excellent use of available resources

... and the Walmart warehouses should be available for free, out of the good will of the Walton clan!

[bravenak]

7. Oh goody!

Such hard times down there. Glad he's moving on this swiftly.

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. I'm in Houston

We started getting brief monsoons about 3 hours ago. Right now the sky is a dark slate blue and the air has that thunderstorm smell (which I love). We're supposed to get 2" to 4" AN HOUR through the evening. And possibly inch sized hail. Thank goodness for covered parking!

[bravenak]

12. Take cover!!

Sometimes we get so much snow that it piles up next to the roads, ten feet high. I was watching the news and saw how bad it is down that way. Had me thinking back to Katrina. I'm glad this ain't no hurricane. I have never seen that much water in Texas. Never.

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. Tropical Storm Allison was really bad

With a hurricane, the wind is a big part of the damage. But a slow moving tropical storm can pour down tons of water in a short period of time. Houston has always had a drainage problem. It has clay soils that don't absorb a lot of water and it's so flat that the water just can't move out of the way fast enough when the rain is heavy for a long time. During Allison, Houston got almost 40 inches of rain over 6 days. 70K homes flooded, 30K left homeless and about 20 deaths. This time around, Houston has only gotten about 20 inches in the last week. Of course, it's not over yet, but the statewide statistics are what's truly mind blowing.

As for taking cover, I've lived here almost 60 years, so it's definitely not my first rodeo. I'm just chillin' at home with my cat. I haven't even lost power.

[awoke_in_2003]

13. I hear the FEMA water has fluoride in it...

On edit: How does that coincide with your post-war commie conspiracy, huh?

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

18. Did the Texans even ask for it?

Last edited Sun May 31, 2015, 05:05 PM - Edit history (1)

... I find it hard to believe that any Texan would ask another country for assistance.

[Skittles]

21. are you kidding?

http://www.citylab.com/weather/2015/05/the-troubled-relationship-between-texas-and-fema/394145/

Texas -= HYPOCRITES

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

33. My point...

... exactly. Lets shut down some of those military bases in Texas to pay for all this clean up and restoration.

[Cha]

23. thank you, TexasT

[840high]

25. I'm happy they're getting aid.

[napi21]

26. S what was the response of the Tx. reps to the flooding in NY/NJ area?

Were THEY part of the group who said NOOOO unless it's paid for? If they were, I say turn about is fair play.

[Psephos]

27. I draw the line at putting politics ahead of helping people being killed in floods.

Humanism transcends politics. The Old Testament retribution impulse is anathema to me.

I hope as many people as possible in Texas who have been harmed by these floods can benefit from the kindness of others. No strings attached.

[napi21]

35. I do too, really. I just get sooo aggrivated when we are always ready to help

in a disaster, but when something really serious happens in a "blue state" there's ALWAYS a fight with the RIGHT who want to know "How are you going to pay for this?"!

I agree politics sho8uldn't be involved, but my "pay-back gene" won't stay quiet!

[Psephos]

37. Well, I do have to fight my "gene" too...

And yes, I agree, it's annoying as hell.

good on ya, napi

[bullwinkle428]

29. Just another element of the Jade Helm/secret overthrow of Texas plot!

[Aristus]

32. Texas is a disaster? Who knew?

They turned my beloved San Antonio into a nightmarish hot mess. They've got LA's freeways, but not the palm trees, Miami's sub-tropical squalor, but not the beaches, and they've plasticized and gentrified the city's once rich, vibrant, and colorful Hispanic culture.

Texas is a disaster, all right. Let's at least save some lives and mop up the streets..

[CTyankee]

34. why is God punishing the good, republican people of Texas with this disaster?

I don't understand it

They vote Republican don't they?

[olddad56]

36. why not, after all Texas has done for him.

I just wouldn't visit Texas if I were him. Didn't work out well for a former President that I can think of.