Texas experienced record rainfall in May as the state grappled with flash floods and 23 deaths, prompting Gov. Greg Abbott to declare a state of disaster in 70 counties including Houston.
President Barack Obama has also signed a disaster declaration for Texas after Abbott requested for federal help due to the damage to counties caused by severe weather, tornadoes and flooding.
"I thank the President and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for their prompt response to Texas' urgent need for a federal disaster declaration," said Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd.
"The large number of Texas counties currently experiencing a state of disaster is an indication of how severe this ongoing weather situation is, and I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for everyone to heed local officials' warnings," said Abbott.
Texas has received 35 trillion gallons of rain in the past month, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth as reported by NBC News.
The state has broken its record rainfall for May and at Camp Mabry in Austin, 16.92 inches of rain fell through May 28, topping old record of 14.10 inches in May 1895.
At least one area in Texas has received four more inches of rain each day since May 5, NBC News said, quoting the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.
Waco county has received rain for 25 consecutive days starting last May 5, beating the previous record of 20 days in the spring of 1957, the National Weather Service in Fort Worth said.
At least 23 people were reported to have died in flooding in Texas and Oklahoma while more than 200 people were rescued from their cars during the height of the floods, the Dallas Office of Emergency Management said.
According to FEMA, with the President's declaration, individuals and families can get assistance for rental payments for temporary housing, grants for home repairs, unemployment payments, grants to replace personal property, low-interest loans, and loans up to $2 million for certain types of businesses.
