Statement by the Press Secretary on Federal Disaster Assistance for Texas

The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Texas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Gustav beginning on August 27, 2008, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Angelina, Aransas, Austin, Bee, Bexar, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Collin, Colorado, Dallas, Denton, DeWitt, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Hardin, Harris, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Lavaca, Liberty, Lubbock, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Polk, Potter, Refugio, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Smith, Starr, Tarrant, Tom Green, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, Waller, Walker, Webb, Wharton, and Willacy.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

R. David Paulison, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Sandy Coachman as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.