Texas Governor Again Renews Drought Disaster Declaration

Gov. Rick Perry has renewed a proclamation declaring Texas a disaster due to the drought.

Perry renewed the disaster status on April 20, extending a similar proclamation from last July.

The governor initially declared the drought a disaster in December 2010, and a severe lack of rainfall still plagues much of the state.

The proclamation allows municipalities to apply for state assistance in dealing with the drought’s impacts, including fighting and recovering from wildfires. It also officially notes the added strain on state water resources.

Texas endured the worst-single year drought in its history through last summer, and a relatively wet winter has been followed by little rainfall statewide in recent weeks.

The drought also helped fuel the costliest wildfire season in terms of property damage in state history last year.