Urges Texans to exercise extreme caution to protect life and property
AUSTIN In a letter to President Obama this week Gov. Rick Perry requested an emergency declaration for the state due to extreme fire hazard from ongoing drought conditions. The governor requested Direct Federal Assistance under Emergency Protective Measures (Category B) of the Public Assistance Program which would provide additional firefighting resources to the state.
The dry hot conditions this summer have left much of the state extremely vulnerable to wildfires that can start and spread rapidly" Gov. Perry said. I urge Texans to exercise tremendous caution to prevent wildfires and to heed warnings from local officials to protect themselves their families and their property."
Gov. Perry made a similar request to the president on February 24 which was denied. Since then conditions in the state have worsened significantly. Since January more than 380 homes have been destroyed and over 636000 acres burned by wildfires the equivalent of 995 square miles. Forty-nine firefighters and seven civilians have been injured.
To address the wildfire threat Gov. Perry issued a disaster declaration on July 15 due to extreme fire hazard. This proclamation was renewed on August 13 and includes 214 counties. The governor has also directed the pre-positioning of resources in the most significantly threatened areas including 56 bulldozers to cut fire lines and 12 fixed-wing aircraft and eight helicopters to perform reconnaissance apply flame retardant and drop water.
In conjunction with the Governors Division of Emergency Management the Texas Forest Service is directing the states wildfire response and the Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Military Forces are assisting fire departments where local resources have been overwhelmed. The Texas AgriLife Extension Service is participating in public awareness efforts and the American Red Cross is providing food and beverage service as needed.
In addition to this request this year Gov. Perry has also requested:
- A disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for all 254 Texas counties on March 6 of which 70 counties have been approved to date;
- On April 16 a major disaster declaration for six North Texas counties that experienced devastating wildfires between April 9-12. This request was denied. Montague County and surrounding counties were approved for assistance through the Small Business Administration.
To view a copy of the governors letter to President Obama please visit
www.governor.state.tx.us
