Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration as Hurricane Hanna made landfall Saturday.
Hurricane Hanna officially made landfall along Padre Island in Kenedy County, Texas as a strong Category 1 Storm with 90mph winds around 5 PM Saturday.
Governor Abbott today held a press conference at the Alternate State Operations Center in Austin where he provided an update on the state’s response to Hurricane Hanna.
Prior to the press conference, the Governor received a weather briefing on Hurricane Hanna from the Texas Division of Emergency Management's (TDEM) meteorologist, as well as an update on response and preparedness efforts from state agency directors and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The Governor also announced that he has issued a disaster declaration and has requested an Emergency Declaration from President Trump and FEMA for Public Assistance Category B (Emergency Protective Measures), Direct Federal Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
“As Hurricane Hanna approaches, the Lone Star State is taking swift action to support the communities in the path of the storm,” said Governor Abbott. “We are closely monitoring the situation and working with local officials to help ensure they have the resources they need to keep Texans safe. I urge Texans in the region to take all necessary precautions and follow the guidance of local officials. I ask our fellow Texans to keep these communities in their prayers as they brace for this storm.”
The Governor issued the disaster declaration for Aransas, Bee, Bexar, Brazoria, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Dimmit, Duval, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Harris, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Matagorda, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria, Webb, Wharton, Willacy, and Zapata counties. The declaration provides the Governor the ability to waive statutes or administrative rules that may hinder the response or recovery, as well as the ability to ask for federal assistance in response to Hurricane Hanna.
Additionally, TDEM has activated previously pre-positioned resources to respond to severe weather.
Hurricane Hanna is foreasted to make landall as a Category 1 Hurricane.
Residents can expect heavy rain, flash flooding, riverine flooding, damage from hurricane-force winds, and dangerous rip currents throughout the lower third of Texas — including the Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley — throughout the weekend.
