President Donald Trump said Tuesday at a campaign rally in Corpus Christi that more federal relief will be available for communities affected by this summer's Hill Country flooding. He said the additional relief was being made available at the request of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Trump said the details would be worked out on Monday. It is not yet clear how much money will be available, which communities will qualify, or whether individual assistance will be included.
On Tuesday, the Texas Division of Emergency Management appealed FEMA's denial of individual assistance. The state is asking for reconsideration for 20 counties, including Bexar, Kerr and Uvalde. In its appeal, the state said 21 homes were destroyed and 242 sustained major damage in Kerr County. It reported four homes destroyed and 171 with major damage in Uvalde County. Individual assistance can help with temporary housing and home repairs. FEMA has already approved public assistance for some counties, which is separate.
Kylie Nidever, a flood survivor in Hunt, questioned the timing of the announcement, which came days before the Nov. 3 election. She said residents have been waiting three months for help. Texas is also appealing FEMA's denial of hazard mitigation funding. Separately, the Internal Revenue Service has postponed certain federal tax deadlines until Feb. 1, 2027, for eligible taxpayers in 62 Texas counties affected by the July storms.