More Counties Declared Disasters after March Storms

AUSTIN (AP) – Four more Texas counties, including two in northeast Texas, have been declared federal disaster areas due to March storms and flooding that swamped roads and inundated a town. The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday announced the designation for Henderson and Shelby counties along with Limestone and Tyler counties. Nine other Texas counties – Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Erath, Hood, Jasper, Newton, Orange, and Parker – were approved for government disaster help on March 19. The declaration clears the way for individuals and public entities to seek federal assistance for losses from storms, tornadoes and flooding March 7 through March 29. Disaster assistance could include grants and loans. Interstate 10 in Southeast Texas was closed for a time during early-March flooding that swamped much of Deweyville.