Congressman Pete P. Gallego requests FEMA and SBA to assist Maverick County flood victims
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013
United States House of Representative Pete P. Gallego, D-Texas 23rd, wrote a letter to Mr. W. Craig Fugate, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Mr. Alfred E. Judd, Center Director of Disaster Assistance of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) requesting their two federal government agencies “to extend their full range of resources to help individuals and local business owners recover from flooding this past weekend in Maverick County, Texas.’
Congressman Gallego personally visited Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas on Sunday, June 16th, to assess and visualize the damages sustained by his constituents in Maverick County as a result of a record breaking rainfall of over 17 inches during a 36 hours period during June 14-15th causing massive and extreme flooding of Elm Creek, a water tributary of the Rio Grande River, and the Rio Grande River in along northern Maverick County as well as many other areas in southern Maverick County such as Farm to Market Road 1021 (El Indio Highway), Seco Creek in Seco Mines and Siesta Acres, Jardines Verdes Subdivision, Las Herraduras Subdivision, and others. Gallego joined State Representative Poncho Nevarez, D-Eagle Pass 74th, in taking an aerial assessment of the widespread and severe damages encountered by Maverick Countians on the United States-Mexico border.
Congressman Gallego informs Fugate and Judd that “more than 400 rescues have occurred. Over 480 homes have been affected by the storms, including 140 which are completely destroyed and at least another 250 other homes which have either major or minor damage. In addition, potentially dozens of small businesses and other city buildings have been damaged. As assessments continue, I anticipate that these numbers will increase. Numerous power outages have been reported, many roads have been severely damaged and require major repair, and there remain numerous drainage issues.”
Gallego advises Fugate and Judd that the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, declared a state of disaster for Maverick County allowing the county and community to qualify for federal assistance to its residents who have been affected by these floods.
Congressman Gallego requests FEMA and the SBA to “grant assistance to individuals, public entities, and businesses of Maverick County so that Texans can get back on their feet, work to get housing, and start their jobs once again.”
Congressman Gallego in an exclusive interview with the Eagle Pass Business Journal on Sunday, June 16th, stated that Eagle Pass and Maverick County are dear to him and his heart and considers them like his second home. Gallego personally changed his busy Congressional schedule to visit with the citizens of Maverick County and its public representatives to assess how
he and the federal government can best assist the community to rebuild and get back on its feet.
