Austin News

April 18, 2025

AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn has issued a written request to President Donald J. Trump for rapid deployment of federal disaster relief resources for South Texas. This follows the severe flooding in Cameron, Willacy, Starr, and Hidalgo counties, which has prompted Governor Greg Abbott's call for assistance.

Cornyn detailed the situation in his letter, stating: “I understand that the State of Texas, through the Office of the Governor, has formally requested an emergency disaster declaration due to severe weather that has affected several counties in South Texas.”

He further noted the inadequacy of state and local resources against the storm's severity: “The Governor and local officials have determined that the severity and scale of the storm exceed the response capabilities of both state and local governments.”

Highlighting the broader implications of the storm, Cornyn emphasized the urgent need for federal aid: “I appreciate your attention to this matter and urge you to provide all available resources from the federal government.”

The letter to President Trump elaborates on the extent of the damage and the essential necessity for federal intervention. The full text of the letter is available for public access.

Cornyn affirmed his commitment to collaborating with FEMA and other agencies for effective resource allocation, concluding: “I am ready to work with FEMA and other relevant agencies to ensure a swift evaluation and deployment of the necessary resources for a complete recovery.”

President Trump has been urged by Cornyn to attend promptly to this issue to facilitate recovery efforts.