FEMA has denied Texas’ request for federal assistance to individuals affected by the July floods, leaving residents in Uvalde and Kerr counties without the federal support often used for temporary housing, making homes livable and replacing lost belongings, The Texas Tribune reported.
Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management are reviewing the decision and the appeal process, according to the governor’s office. FEMA said it evaluates requests using factors including insurance coverage, recent disasters, disaster-related unemployment and a state’s fiscal capacity. The agency said it is focused on allowing states to lead community response and recovery while providing federal help when warranted.
The decision affects communities still recovering from severe flooding in July 2025. In Kerr County, some residents and businesses were hit again in 2026. The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country said it had provided about $1.3 million in emergency assistance to 947 households and temporary housing help to 58 households, but local groups said philanthropic support covers only part of the longer recovery need.
The denial follows weeks of uncertainty. In an earlier Tribune report, the outlet reported that FEMA had approved only direct federal emergency work six weeks after the floods, while assistance for individuals and long-term public infrastructure remained unavailable. The earlier report said Texas’ initial request estimated $489.7 million in damage and costs, while the more limited emergency support was typically capped at $5 million.
Abbott’s office pointed to other measures, including a request to suspend federal tax deadlines and waive late fees for affected people and businesses, as well as an extension allowing some SNAP recipients to seek replacement benefits for food lost in the floods. Whether Texas will appeal FEMA’s individual-assistance decision, and what state resources would replace it if the denial stands, remains under review.