President Biden Declares Texas Winter Storm a Major Disaster — Orders Federal Assistance For Recovery Efforts
This Saturday, President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Texas after a historic winter storm wreaked havoc on the state, creating a power and utility crisis that made it difficult for residents to access safe drinking water.
As we previously reported, millions of Texans have struggled with power outages and more than half the state is experiencing disrupted water service with boil-water notices in effect. Over 14 million people in Texas were told to boil their water as of Friday because parts of the state’s water supply might be contaminated. In a statement released by the White House, President Biden said he had “ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storms.”
“Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programmes to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster,” the statement said. President Biden also said he plans to visit Texas as long as his presence is not a burden on relief efforts. The administration has been working closely with Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on disaster response.
As CNBC notes, in addition to the major disaster declaration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued an emergency fuel waiver for Texas. The waiver, effective immediately, permits the state to temporarily forgo certain fuel standards to combat gas shortages in impacted areas.
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