President Declares Major Disaster For The State Of Texas 

Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Texas to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by wildfires during the period of April 6 to May 3, 2011

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, in the counties of Andrews, Archer, Armstrong, Bailey, Baylor, Brewster, Callahan, Carson, Castro, Clay, Coleman, Concho, Cottle, Crockett, Dawson, Duval, Eastland, Garza, Glasscock, Hall, Hemphill, Hockley, Irion, Kent, King, Lynn, Martin, Mason, Mitchell, Moore, Motley, Pecos, Presidio, Scurry, Stephens, Sterling, Sutton, Terrell, Terry, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Trinity, Tyler, Val Verde, and Young.

Kevin L. Hannes has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Hannes said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.