Disaster Recovery News

Southern Texas was doused with 13 inches of heavy rain on Monday, flooding an estimated 750 homes in Starr County and forcing over 240 people to evacuate. By Monday evening 3 to 4 feet of water stood in neighborhoods around Roma, Texas and north of US Highway 83.

The flooding is being attributed to large amounts of rain falling on ground already saturated by the rains caused by Hurricane Dolly in July. The ground was unable to take in the large amount of water quick enough. Rain continues to fall today in northwest Texas creating flash flood warnings in Decatur and Whichita Falls.

Area residents that chose to stay in their flooded houses were hoping to fend off thieves and save some of their belongings.

Weather experts are continuing to watch the storm moving through Texas and the necessary flood clean-up that is sure to follow.

More on flood recovery.

Recent Video From Roma, TX:

A second Disaster Recovery Center has opened in Sebastian, Texas to help residents of Willacy County with the recovery and rebuilding of the area after Hurricane Dolly. The additional center will be located in the IRRA Community Building. There are a total of six such centers open to homeowners and businesses in Texas as part of the federal assistance provided after the storm hit the southern coast in July.

The Disaster Recovery Centers provide individuals that have suffered from a major disaster, like Hurricane Dolly, with access to FEMA staff, federal and state agencies, volunteer organizations and disaster recovery specialists who are able to help residents through the process of assessing disaster damage, applying for disaster assistance and recovering from the devastation done to their home and belongings.

For more on Hurricane Dolly disaster relief, visit http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=10347

FEMA announced on Friday that it will add six Texas counties to its list of eligible areas for disaster assistance. The federal funding is provided to aid with repairs, restoration, reconstruction and replacement of public facilities and their contents, roads, bridges, water facilities, parks and other public infrastructures damaged by Hurricane Dolly.

Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Starr and Willacy counties are all now eligible for all categories of federal Public Assistance in addition to qualifying for Individial Assistance. By being added to this program, the county governments and some non-profit organizations are now eligible to receive 75% of the funds needed to complete disaster recovery efforts on these infrastructures.

Representatives in these counties that would like to learn more are encouraged to contact the Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management.

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FEMA is reporting on what they consider strong and quick disaster recovery services in Texas weeks after Hurricane Dolly ravaged the Texas and Mexico coast on July 24. Under the presidential major disaster declaration, residents of 15 counties are eligible for Individual and/or Public assistance to aid in the removal of debris and damage prevention.

Over 19,500 individuals and homes have applied for federal disaster assistance to date and over 2,250 people have met with disaster recovery specialists at Disaster Recovery Centers to get one-on-one help for their specific home or business needs.

For more on what is being done for Texas residents by FEMA, visit http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45383.

The National Weather Service warned of flash floods along the eastern portion of New Mexico Sunday night as the remnants of Hurricane Dolly passed through the area, bringing with it 9 inches of rain. Officials have reported 300-500 people have been evacuated from their homes and camping areas after the Rio Ruidoso spilled over its banks on Sunday. Some residents are starting to return to their homes this afternoon but many are still displaced. The state estimates that over 60 homes have been damaged by the floodwaters.

View a CNN Video of the New Mexico flooding