Biden Signs Disaster Declaration For Dallas As Effects of Disaster Stay As Temperature Rises

Yes, temperatures finally hit above freezing, but many infrastructural issues still linger over Texas as a whole. Some emergency water distribution sites in Dallas had to be temporarily closed after running out of supplies according to a Dallas Morning News article from February 21st. In it they say:

“In Dallas, the Office of Emergency Management handed out hundreds of cases of bottled water Sunday at Oak Cliff’s Kiest Rec Center, Mattie Nash-Myrtle Davis Rec Center in West Dallas, Harry Stone Rec Center in Far East Dallas and Fretz Rec Center in Far North Dallas. But by 3 p.m. only Fretz had supplies left.

Unlike other cities in North Texas, Dallas’ Water Utilities service never went out during the storms, nor did the utility have to issue a boil water notice to residents. But freezing temperatures led to widespread plumbing damage at homes and apartment complexes that have left many people without water.”

President Biden has finally signed a major disaster declaration 77 Texas counties and has plans to visit the state during these exceptionally trying circumstances according to another Dallas Morning News article from February 20th. In it they say:

“The declaration covers 77 counties that include most of the state’s population, including Dallas and its neighboring counties, and the counties that include Houston, San Antonio and Austin.

Biden signed it late Friday, after telling reporters earlier in the day that he would do so as soon as the state’s request made its way to his desk.

The declaration triggers individual assistance, public assistance and hazard mitigation, while also allowing eligible Texans to apply for assistance with broken pipes or property damage from the winter storms.

Gov. Greg Abbott said during a press conference Friday that there are no longer any residential power outages due to the lack of power generation, though roughly 165,000 households remain without power caused by either downed power lines or the need for power companies to manually reconnect the residence to the power system.”

Biden hasn’t specified where exactly in Texas he’ll be visiting, but plans for the visit are underway.