Congressman Gonzalez Urges President Trump to Issue Disaster Declaration for South Texas

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) sent a letter to President Trump and FEMA Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton urging the administration to issue a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the Rio Grande Valley so that South Texans impacted by the March 2025 floods can receive essential federal assistance.  

This letter follows Congressman Gonzalez’s letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott on March 28, 2025, urging him to issue a disaster declaration, and the Governor’s letter to President Trump on April 17, 2025, requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Nearly a month after the devastating floods, South Texans remain waiting for a determination and final decision from the Trump administration.  

The letter reads: “Due to the damage, on March 28, 2025, I wrote to Governor Greg Abbott urging him to issue a disaster declaration for South Texas so that the affected counties could receive assistance: Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties.” 

“As a result, on March 29, 2025, Governor Abbott issued a disaster declaration for the four affected counties. Over the last several weeks, members of the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM), Small Business Administration (SBA), and local governments coordinated a Damage Assessment of the area. As of April 14, 2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed the following damages to homes: 842 affected, 2,618 minor, 1,911 major, and 235 destroyed.”  

“As time progresses and people recover, our communities will continue to confront the long-term damage that these floods left behind...As Congressman for the 34th Congressional District of Texas, I urge you to head Governor Abbott’s request to issue a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the Rio Grande Valley and the release Individual Assistance (IA) funds to allow affected communities to rebuild. South Texans need assistance and rely on their public officials to step up and help them. I look forward to working together for the betterment of all South Texans.” 

Read the full letter here. 

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