Congressman Gonzalez Thanks Governor Greg Abbott for State Disaster Declaration

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) issued the following statement in response to Texas Governor Greg Abbott's State Disaster Declaration for six Texas counties that have faced severe weather and flooding over the past few days. The following counties in South Texas have been included: Aransas, Cameron, Hidalgo, Nueces, San Patricio and Willacy Counties.

"I am working closely with federal and state officials to ensure that aid and assistance are made available to all in the Rio Grande Valley and the Coastal Bend region," Congressman Gonzalez said. "I stand ready to help all residents going through difficulties during this unfortunate weather event. I've been in contact with the Office of Governor Greg Abbott as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local and state elected officials. I'll continue to monitor the situation and act swiftly to provide relief to those affected. Thank you, Governor Abbott, for acting quickly on this disaster declaration."

This morning, the congressman released a statement advising residents in the Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend to adhere to flooding precautions and procedures outlined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

Types of alerts:

Flood Watch: Flooding in your area is possible. You should leave or be prepared to move to higher ground immediately upon short notice. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, local radio, and/or television stations for information and monitor alert notifications.

Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or is about to occur soon. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Flash Flood Watch: Flash flooding is possible. You should leave or be prepared to move to higher ground upon short notice. Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, local radio, and/or television stations for information and monitor alert notifications.

Flash Flood Warning: A flash flood is occurring or about to occur. Seek higher ground immediately.

Before Flooding:

Know your flood risk. Residents can check their flood risk by entering their address athttps://msc.fema.gov/portal/search.

Know your community's local flood evacuation plan and identify several escape routes for your location if roads are blocked; include plans to evacuate people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, pets, service animals, and livestock. If you will evacuate by car, keep your car fueled and in good condition. Keep emergency supplies and a change of clothes in your car.

If you will need to share transportation, make arrangements now. If you will need to use public transportation, including paratransit, contact your local government emergency management agency to ask how an evacuation will work, how you will get current information during an evacuation, the location of staging areas, and other information. If you need to relocate for an extended period of time, identify a place away from home now where you could go if you had to leave. Consider family or friends who live outside of the local area.

If you expect to go to a shelter after evacuating, download the American Red Cross Shelter Finder app. This app displays open American Red Cross shelters and provides the capacity and current population of each shelter. Visit http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps. You can also text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area. If you have pets and plan to go to a shelter, call to inquire whether the shelter can accommodate your pets. Shelters will accept service animals

Store supplies so you can grab them quickly if you need to evacuate; know in advance what else you will need to take. For a full list of supplies for your emergency supply kit, visit https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.

During a Flood:

If authorities advise or order you to evacuate, do so immediately. Be sure to remember the Five Ps of Evacuation: People, Prescriptions, Paper, Personal Needs, and Priceless Items.

If you are in the path of a slow-onset flood and there is time before you need to evacuate, consider the following strategies.

• Move items you want to protect to a higher floor.
• Turn off gas, water, and electricity if you know how and can do it safely. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or you are standing in water.
• Put sandbags around your property.

If you see floodwater on roads, walkways, bridges, and on the ground, do not attempt to cross. The depth of the water is not always obvious, and the roadbed may be washed out under the water. Moving water has tremendous power. Six inches of moving water has the potential to knock you off your feet, and a foot of water can sweep a vehicle—even a large SUV—off of the road. Floodwaters can contain rocks, mud, other debris, oil, gasoline, and even sewage. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers. For more information on floodwater hazards, visit the NWS Turn Around Don't Drown® program at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/water/tadd/.

If you do not leave before the flooding reaches your immediate area and you are trapped, call 9-1-1 if possible. Give your location and explain your situation. Return home only when authorities say it is safe. Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded and watch out for debris. Do not attempt to drive through areas that are still flooded.

After Flooding Ends:

Return home only when authorities say it is safe. Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. and watch out for debris. Do not attempt to drive through areas that are still flooded. Listen to official public information to get expert, informed advice as soon as it becomes available. If your home was severely flooded, you may only be able to enter when officials say it is safe to do so. Stay out of any building surrounded by floodwaters.

Use extreme caution when entering flooded buildings. There may be hidden damage, particularly in foundations. Personal safety considerations include protecting yourself from electric shock, mold contamination, asbestos, and lead paint. Turn off electricity at main breaker or fuse box. Homeowners who are unfamiliar with electricity or their home's electrical systems should contact their local power company or a qualified electrician to assist them in making their property safe from electrical hazards after a flood. Check for loose boards and slippery floors. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or you are standing in water.

Shut off utilities to a flooded home or building. Use flashlights, not lanterns, torches, or matches, to examine buildings. Flammable gases may be inside the structure and open flames may cause a fire or explosion. If you turned off your gas, a licensed professional is required to turn it back on. Carbon monoxide exhaust kills. Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machine ONLY outdoors and away from windows so the fumes do not get inside. The same goes for camping stoves. Fumes from charcoal are also deadly—cook with charcoal ONLY outdoors. For more information, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website on preventing carbon monoxide poisoning after an emergency at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/cofacts.html.

Stay away from moving water, especially near rivers, streams, drainage systems, and coastal areas. Avoid wading in floodwater, which may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Watch for dangerous debris (e.g., broken glass, metal fragments), dead animals, or venomous snakes that may be in floodwaters. Before walking through debris, use a stick to check for hidden dangers. Underground or downed power lines may electrically charge the water. Do not drive in areas where floodwater covers the road. Stay away from downed power lines and report them to 9-1-1 or the power company's emergency number. Stay away from damaged areas unless police, fire, or relief organizations have requested your assistance.

Congressman Gonzalez is advising RGV residents to make a plan, be prepared, and follow any safety guidelines released by FEMA, NWS, and state or local officials.