Gov. Greg Abbott declares disaster after Dallas-Fort Worth flooding

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Gov. Greg Abbott signed a state disaster declaration Tuesday for 23 counties after the Dallas space skilled what he described as town’s second-worst rainstorm and flooding on report.

Some elements of the world noticed greater than 10 inches of rainfall Monday, flooding streets and homes in what Abbott known as “an extraordinary challenge.” A 60-year-old lady died in Mesquite when her car was swept away.

Appearing at a news convention in Dallas, Abbott stated that greater than 100 houses had been broken or in any other case affected by the storm. The state response included 11 Texas A&M Task Force swift water boat squads, tactical marine items from the Department of Public Safety, and search-and-rescue groups from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, praised the response, saying that some elements of the area noticed “15 inches in a five-hour period with very little advance warning.” The worst seems to be over, he added, although he warned there’s “still plenty of water out.”

Abbott stated he has spoken to each Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who appeared alongside the governor, and so they have instructed him that “as of this time, they have no unmet needs.”

The disaster declaration frees up state assets for these impacted by the storm and contains counties exterior the Dallas space that additionally noticed heavy rainfall Monday, like El Paso County.

Some elements of Texas, together with the Dallas space, have been in excessive drought for months, although this week’s rainfall is not expected to end the drought.

Scientists say local weather change can contribute to shorter, extra intense durations of rainfall like what Dallas noticed Monday. Asked Tuesday in regards to the position of local weather change within the storm, Abbott stated state officers “have constant conversations about what we categorize as extreme weather” and acknowledged such occasions are rising. He expressed confidence the state was ready to cope with them.

Disclosure: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has been a monetary supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news group that’s funded partly by donations from members, foundations and company sponsors. Financial supporters play no position within the Tribune’s journalism. Find an entire list of them here.

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