Governor Greg Abbott declares disaster in Dallas, Tarrant counties following flash floods
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a state disaster declaration at a Dallas press conference Tuesday morning following historic downpours that brought floods and damage across the region on Sunday and Monday.
The declaration covers 23 counties, including Tarrant and Dallas. The declaration frees up state resources to aid local governments addressing storm damage.
As of Monday afternoon, the National Weather Service reported that 10.08 inches of rain had fallen in the area.
Dallas-Fort Worth Airport reported 9.19 inches of rain, and in east Dallas 15.16 inches of rain piled up.
There was one death — a 60-year-old woman whose body was pulled from a flooded vehicle in Mesquite on Monday, Abbott said.
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, too, signed a declaration of local disaster Tuesday afternoon that will be in place for seven days unless extended by the commissioners court, according to a press release.
Abbott was joined Tuesday morning by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd and other top public safety officials from Dallas.
The governor said what Dallas and the rest of the region had sustained was an “extraordinary challenge.” Even though the weather event was historic, Abbott found it “remarkable” and “typical” that the sun was starting to appear in Dallas.
“This is Texas,” he said.
Abbott said he spoke with Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, who like Dallas’ mayor, said there were no unmet needs in the city. He also said he met with Mesquite Mayor Daniel Alemán Jr.
More than 100 homes across the region have been damaged or impacted by the weather, Abbott said. The state has responded by deploying water rescue boats and personnel that include 11 Texas A&M Task Force Swift Water Boat Squads and one Flood Water Boat Squad. Together, those crews included 24 boats and 81 personnel.
DPS also sent out tactical Marine units, and Texas Parks & Wildlife has sent out search and rescue teams and boats, Abbott said. Damage assessments are being made across the region, and the state is working with FEMA to determine how much damage occurred in the region, Abbott said.
Abbott told Texans to make claims with their insurance and file reports using the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s self-reporting tool.
In Dallas, 28 cars were damaged, the city’s police chief said.
“Needless to say, the effect of this storm has been dramatic here in Dallas and Fort Worth, but across multiple regions in the state of Texas,” Abbott said.
Abbott, faced with a question about climate change and extreme weather, told a reporter that ERCOT has made sure the power grid was able to stay on.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 1:03 PM.
