Gov. Greg Abbott issues disaster declaration for Texas ice storm

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4 days after an ice storm left a whole bunch of 1000’s of Texans with out energy, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a catastrophe declaration for seven counties impacted by the extreme climate.

Subfreezing temperatures mixed with rain to supply a nasty storm that coated a lot of the Texas Hill Nation in ice, toppling tree limbs and downing electrical traces. As of Saturday night, greater than 60,000 households have been nonetheless with out energy.

“The State of Texas has offered all help requested all through the extreme climate this week, and we proceed to make sure that communities throughout our state have the sources and assist they should recuperate from the winter climate occasion,” Abbott stated in a press release.

Abbott issued the declaration for Denton, Hays, Henderson, Milam, Smith, Travis and Williamson counties, all of which skilled important harm over the past week. Abbott stated extra counties could also be added based mostly on harm assessments nonetheless in progress.

Abbott stated the declaration would allow the state to supply help to individuals and communities with property harm. He inspired residents to report harm, with particulars and photographs if attainable, by means of the Particular person State of Texas Evaluation Device survey.

The declaration got here after Austin officers confronted criticism for fumbling communication concerning the storm and falling brief on early guarantees of a fast decision to the outages.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Austin Power officers waited greater than 24 hours after individuals started dropping energy to carry the primary press convention. And hours after they spoke Thursday, the electrical energy supplier walked again its estimate that energy could be restored by the top of the third day of outages, extending the sense of uncertainty. Finally, the city-owned utility stated it might now not promise when electrical energy could be absolutely restored.

Regardless of frustration concerning the preliminary sluggish tempo, progress has been made. Between Thursday and Saturday, nearly 100,000 Austin clients had their energy restored.