AUSTIN, TX — The Texas governor took the extraordinary step Friday of declaring a state-wide disaster when it comes to the COVID-19 virus.
Greg Abbott says the move will help Texans cope with the problem.
But how?
The declaration means the government just removed several possible roadblocks to responding to coronavirus.
"I am, at this moment, declaring a state of disaster for every county in the state of Texas," said Governor Greg Abbott, R-Texas.
The governor's move clears the way for the state to take whatever action it needs to address any coronavirus concerns.
”provide the immediate ability to move resources around the state, including resources obtained from the strategic national stockpile," he explained.
That means, medicine, test kits and supplies can come straight from Uncle Sam to us.
It also helps insure we won't get overcharged or taken, by crooked merchants.
"This will empower the Texas Attorney General to pursue cases of price gouging and assure that offenders are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said the governor.
And when it comes to anything else that might get in the way, Governor Abbott says, he'll have that covered too.
"My office can approve the waiving of state laws that hinder state agencies ability to respond to COVID-19," he said.
Governor Abbott likens the response to coronavirus to the way the state would respond to a hurricane, something the state has done hundreds of times.
He believes we'll weather this latest storm just the same.
