Local News
Death Toll Rises in Houston Flooding Disaster
As of Monday afternoon, Governor Greg Abbott signed a declaration of disaster for nine total counties amid Houston flooding.
As the Houston Chronicle reported, at least five people have drowned due to the major storm, two of which took place near Interstate 610 and U.S. 59. after a car drove around a barricaded section. An additional two took place near “Greenspoint Drive and the Beltway, and at West Hardy Road and the Beltway.”
The disaster declaration includes Harris, Bastrop, Colorado, Fort Bend, Grimes, Montgomery, Waller, Wharton, and Austin counties around the Houston metro area. By officially declaring a disaster, “local officials can implement state emergency-assistance plans and order curfews, if necessary, as the heavy rains continue in the forecast through at least Tuesday.”
The first step to gaining a federal disaster declaration is also by declaring a state disaster and “detailed damage assessments” are expected to take place following the major rains. Graciously, everyone’s least favorite government service, the IRS, will grant tax filing extensions for those directly affected by the flooding.
