Gov. Abbott: ‘This is the highest flood recorded in state of Texas’

[TexasTowelie]

2:30 p.m. update: Following a flight over the Blanco River on Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference in Wimberley that “you cannot candy coat” the damage from the weekend storm. “It’s absolutely massive. It’s a powerful message to anyone in harm’s way of the relentless, tsunami-type power this wave of water can pose to people.”

“What we have seen here in Hays County can or possibly will affect people downstream, in river basins all the way to Gulf of Mexico.”

He said the flood in the Wimberley valley is now the flood of record.

“This is the highest flood we’ve ever had recorded in the history of the state of Texas,” he said. “The rain bans that span literally from south of the Rio Grande to north of the Red River have been relentless day after day. The grounds and the rivers are saturated and filled; that creates a relentless flow of water.”

_____

Amid continuing tornadoes, heavy rainfall, thunderstorm and flooding, Gov. Greg Abbott declared a disaster in 24 counties Monday.

The disaster declaration encompasses Archer, Bastrop, Caldwell, Cass, Collin, Dewitt, Fannin, Grayson, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Houston, Kendall, Jasper, Johnson, Newton, Nueces, Parker, San Jacinto, Walker, Wichita and Wilson counties, authorizing further mobilization of state resources to assist communities in those counties. The governor’s office said that additional counties may be added to the declaration as the situation develops.

-snip-

Abbott had declared a state of disaster in Bosque, Clay, Denton, Eastland, Gaines, Montague and Van Zandt counties on May 11, and added Cooke, Grimes, Hood, Navarro, Smith and Wise counties on May 15. The governor’s declaration follows an elevated activation of the Texas State Operations Center to enable rapid deployment of state resources announced May 4.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/gov-abbott-to-survey-storm-damage-in-wimberley/nmNRh/

[bluestateguy]

1. If he wants federal disaster money, that will have to come with a price

1) Expand Medicaid under Obamacare

2)Set up an Obamacare insurance exchange

[Ilsa]

2. Seriously, will that be the deal?

Will he be required to modify Texas' ACA options to get the money? If so, I would have prayed for a flood sooner (without the casualties, or course).

[catrose]

3. God, I hope so

That he modify Texas' ACA options.

And seriously, Travis County is not on that list? Boy, howdee, there must be some water in those places.

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. Travis is mostly urban

Building codes, setbacks etc keep people from building too close to the river. There are still a lot of old buildings that are flood risks, but not much new construction. Plus, the city and county have plenty of resources of their own. They don't need state aid unless there is fairly widespread damage.

[ananda]

7. It seems to me that Travis Cty would need some aid this time.

Particularly downtown.

He's going to have to add Harris Cty to that list too!

Of course, Harris and Travis are blue counties .... so ....

[catrose]

9. Being in the rural part, watching the water rise and the roads close,

not to mention memories of all the houses lost in the Onion Creek flood a few years ago (including a friend's), yeah, I think we will need some aid, though other places might need it worse.

Today so far there's no rain, which is letting things dry a bit. But there's rain forecast for several days to come. Maybe we'll be lucky.

I hadn't thought about Perry's--I mean, Abbott's--what's the difference?--political leanings, but yeah, could be right.

[ashling]

4. It is only logical

since those worst affected will benefit from expanded Medicaid


... and since the Obama forces and black ops are already in the state taking everyone's guns ...

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Guess that a lot of Texans are reconsidering succession from the Union

now that they need federal disaster aid money?

[ananda]

10. Regarding aid for Central Texas, including Travis Cty

There is good and important information here:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/emergency/2015-05-26/flood-of-relief/