AUSTIN – The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and Texas A& M Forest Service are deploying firefighters, emergency management personnel, fire engines and equipment to assist with wildfire response efforts in California following a request from CAL Fire through the California Office of Emergency Services.
TDEM, the Texas A&M Forest Service, and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System have begun readying more than 100 firefighters, emergency management personnel, and more than 25 fire engines, command vehicles, and equipment to deploy to California as crews battle ongoing wildfires in the northern part of the state.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued the declaration of assistance Sunday.
“ Texans understand the urgency of responding to wildfires, and our country is stronger when we come together in times of crisis,” Abbott said. “I am grateful for all the firefighters and emergency management personnel as they answer the call to protect their fellow Americans.
The deployment is coordinated under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a state-to-state mutual aid system that enables states to aid and share resources with another state in response to a disaster or emergency.
EMAC members can share resources from all disciplines, protect personnel who deploy, and be reimbursed for mission- related costs.
In other news, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission ( HHSC) has received federal approval to automatically provide replacement benefits for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in Fort Bend and Washington counties.
With this federal approval, SNAP recipients in 20 counties are now eligible for automatic SNAP replacement benefits.
“ As Texans continue to recover following the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl,” the governor said, “eligible Texans in Fort Bend and Washington counties will be able to have their SNAP benefits automatically replaced for food that was lost or destroyed during Hurricane Beryl.
“I thank the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for working tirelessly with our federal partners to ensure resources and assistance are provided to impacted communities so Texans can put fresh, healthy food on the table,” Abbott added.
The approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services applies to SNAP recipients in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington, and Wharton counties.
“ As we’ve continued to monitor the damages from Hurricane Beryl, we identified two additional counties eligible to receive SNAP benefit replacements,” said Molly Regan, Texas HHSC deputy executive commissioner of access and eligibility services. “ We’re grateful we can provide support to families that need our help.”
SNAP recipients in these 20 counties will automatically receive a percentage of their July benefit allotment on their Lone Star Card by July 30.
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