As natural disasters like flooding, tornadoes and landslides piled up this spring, FEMA accumulated a backlog of disaster requests going into the Gulf of Mexico's hurricane season.

Governor Greg Abbott has updated his disaster declaration to include 26 counties in Texas, added FEMA to the Public Assistance program for three additional counties, and directed the state's ongoing flood response and recovery efforts.

With hurricane and wildfire season well underway across much of the country, state and local emergency managers say they have little idea how much support the federal government will provide

Weeks before flash floods devastated the Texas Hill Country, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) participated in the first meeting of a new council to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He criticized FEMA as “slow and clunky,” arguing that states are able to respond “more nimbly, more swiftly, more effectively” to disasters.

Many victims of the recent flooding did not have flood insurance when water washed away homes, cars and belongings.

Williamson County and FEMA announced they will soon open a Disaster Recovery Center for residents impacted by floods in early July.

The visit by acting Administrator David Richardson is his first known trip to a disaster site since President Donald Trump made him FEMA’s top official.

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