August 5, 2024 – Governor Greg Abbott announced that the federal government has updated the Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Beryl to include five additional Texas counties now eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance program.
"This approval to include five additional counties for individual assistance is a critical step forward to ensure Texans can recover and rebuild from Hurricane Beryl," said Governor Abbott. "As part of Texas' ongoing response to support impacted communities, we continue working closely with our federal and local partners to assess damages caused by this devastating hurricane. I thank the Texas Division of Emergency Management and local emergency management personnel for their tireless efforts to help their fellow Texans in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl."
After the completion and verification of damage assessments, the following counties have been deemed eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program: Austin, Bowie, Shelby, Trinity, and Waller.
Qualifying Texans in the following counties are eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program: Austin, Bowie, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Walker, Waller, and Wharton. Texans can apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.
FEMA’s Individual Assistance program funding assists with expenses such as temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment assistance, and medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the disaster.
Texas may request additional counties for federal assistance based on completion of damage assessments in impacted communities.
The State of Texas continues to take action to provide all available resources to help support local communities impacted by Hurricane Beryl, including:
July 2 – Texas Emergency Management Officials Urged Texans to Keep an Eye on the Gulf this Holiday Week
July 3 – Governor Abbott Directed TDEM to Issue Hurricane Beryl Advisory Notice for Texas Emergency Management Council
July 4 – Governor Abbott directed TDEM to increase the readiness level of the State Emergency Operations Center
July 5 – Acting Governor Patrick Issued a Disaster Declaration for 40 Counties and Held a Press Conference
July 6 – Acting Governor Patrick Expanded Disaster Declarations for an Additional 81 Counties
*July 7 – Acting Governor Patrick Held a Press Conference on Hurricane Beryl to Update Texans on the State’s Preparation Efforts
July 8 – Acting Governor Dan Patrick Provided an Update on Hurricane Beryl Response Efforts
July 9 – Governor Abbott Provided an Update On Hurricane Beryl Response In Texas and Acting Governor Patrick Held a Press Conference and Media Availability
July 10 – Governor Abbott Announces 67 Counties Approved For Major Disaster Declaration and Acting Governor Patrick Holds Press Conference To Update On Hurricane Beryl Response
July 11– Acting Governor Patrick Holds Press Conference On State's Response And Recovery Efforts, requested additional federal disaster assistance for 15 Texas counties, and requested an extension of the incident period for Hurricane Beryl
July 13 – Governor Abbott Announces Approval Of Federal Disaster Assistance For 17 Texas Counties
July 14 – Governor Abbott Provides Update On Texas' Ongoing Hurricane Beryl Response And Recovery Efforts
July 15 – Governor Abbott Tours Hurricane Beryl Resource Staging Area In Houston
July 16 – Governor Abbott Directs CenterPoint To Improve Their Severe Weather Preparation, Response Practices
July 24 – Governor Abbott Announces Transitional Sheltering Assistance For Hurricane Beryl