AUSTIN — Today Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush issued the following statement in reaction to President Donald J. Trump's issuance of a federal disaster declaration for Hidalgo and Cameron Counties in response to recent significant flooding:

"Today President Trump issued a much-needed federal disaster declaration in response to devastating flooding in the Rio Grande Valley," said Commissioner Bush. "When the flooding began, my team and I traveled to the RGV to meet with local officials from all of the counties affected. I am committed to advocating for residents and we are ready to help RGV communities recover."

The Community Development and Revitalization (CDR) division of the Texas General Land Office administers both short- and long-term housing recovery missions for the state of Texas. 

Following Hurricane Harvey, Governor Greg Abbott tasked the GLO with partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on the short-term housing mission in addition to the long-term CDBG-DR effort. This was the first time in Texas history that a state agency has participated in the short-term housing mission. The GLO, in partnership with FEMA, helped more than 60,000 Texans in need of federal short-term housing assistance. 

Since 2011, the GLO has administered Housing and Urban Development CDBG-DR funds for long-term recovery. To date, more than $9 billion in combined CDBG-DR funds have been sent to Texas for recovery efforts following Hurricanes Rita, Dolly, and Ike, the 2011 wildfires, the 2015 and 2016 floods and Hurricane Harvey. CDBG-DR funds can be used for a wide variety of activities including housing redevelopment, infrastructure repair and long-term planning. For more information, please visit TexasRebuilds.org.

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