US President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration Saturday for 13 Texas counties, freeing federal relief for areas damaged in last winter's crippling ice storms, Report informs via The Texas Tribune.
Disaster relief will be available for state agencies, local governments and some nonprofits "on a cost-sharing basis" to repair and replace damaged facilities and conduct other emergency work, the White House said.
Gov. Greg Abbott, who had requested a disaster declaration covering 23 counties, thanked Biden for the designation, calling it "a critical first step to helping Texans recover from this severe weather event."