Gov. Greg Abbott declares Dallas-Fort Worth deluge a disaster, freeing up state resources to help in

Gov. Greg Abbott declares Dallas-Fort Worth deluge a disaster, freeing up state resources to help in recovery

by Patrick Svitek, Texas Tribune


Gov. Greg Abbott signed a state disaster declaration Tuesday for 23 counties after the Dallas area experienced what he described as the city’s second-worst rainstorm and flooding on record.

Some parts of the area saw more than 10 inches of rainfall Monday, flooding streets and homes in what Abbott called “an extraordinary challenge.” A 60-year-old woman died in Mesquite when her vehicle was swept away.

Appearing at a news conference in Dallas, Abbott said that more than 100 homes were damaged or otherwise affected by the storm. The state response included 11 Texas A&M Task Force swift water boat squads, tactical marine units from the Department of Public Safety, and search-and-rescue teams from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, praised the response, saying that some parts of the region saw “15 inches in a five-hour period with very little advance warning.” The worst appears to be over, he added, though he warned there is “still plenty of water out.”

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/23/dallas-fort-worth-flooding-disaster-declaration/