. . .Perry, at a press conference earlier Tuesday, expressed frustration with federal officials taking so long to approve a major disaster declaration for Texas, which has been hit with wildfires for months.
A statement from Perry’s office noted that in addition to state disaster proclamations in April, the governor months ago sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting a major disaster declaration, which would have made the state eligible for direct federal assistance and emergency protective measures.
The Obama administration denied the request on May 3. Perry appealed on May 26 and received partial approval of relief on July 1. A request to expand the scope of federal relief is still pending, he said Tuesday.
Last month, after Hurricane Irene walloped the Eastern Seaboard, FEMA officials had warned that some disaster-rebuilding funds might be unavailable because its budget was running short. But they said that problem affects only long-term infrastructure funds, not money needed for immediate disaster relief such as temporary housing and emergency claims.
Perry also expressed frustration Tuesday that federal firefighting support, including bulldozers and other heavy equipment from Fort Hood that could be used to clear fire breaks, has yet to make its way to the Texas fire sites.
“It’s more difficult than it should be,” he told reporters after touring the Steiner Ranch neighborhood in western Travis County. “When you have people hurting, when lives are in danger, I don’t care who owns the asset.”
While Fort Hood is battling its own large wildfire — a 3,700-acre blaze on an unoccupied section of the post jumped a fire line Monday night — that might not be the main obstacle. According to Fort Hood officials, formal requests for military assistance must be made through FEMA, which would then send the request to the Department of Defense.