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AUSTIN, Texas — Governor Greg Abbott has intensified Texas’ response to the deadly Hill Country floods, announcing that President Biden has approved a federal disaster declaration for the hardest-hit counties and proclaiming Sunday, July 6, a statewide Day of Prayer for victims and first responders. The governor’s office confirmed late Monday that at least 104 people are dead and dozens remain missing after more than 20 inches of rain triggered catastrophic flash floods along the Llano, Blanco and Guadalupe rivers. Nearly 1,700 state personnel, including Texas Task Force 1 swift-water rescue teams, the Texas National Guard and DPS troopers, are on the ground conducting search-and-rescue, debris removal and damage assessments. Abbott said the federal declaration unlocks FEMA Individual Assistance for displaced families and Public Assistance for local governments facing staggering infrastructure damage. “Texans are resilient, but they shouldn’t have to shoulder this burden alone,” he told reporters during a press conference at the State Operations Center on Tuesday afternoon. Key disaster-relief resources • FEMA Recovery Centers will open this week in Llano, Blanco, Hays, Kendall and Comal counties. • The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) activated the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry for residents with disabilities or transportation needs. • Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans are now available for businesses and nonprofits suffering physical or economic losses. Why the flooding was so severe Meteorologists say a stalled frontal boundary pulled deep Gulf moisture into Central Texas, dumping a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours over already saturated ground. Rapid runoff funneled into narrow river canyons, sending walls of water through low-lying towns such as Marble Falls, Wimberley and Boerne. Several USGS gauges recorded record crests, eclipsing the deadly 2015 Memorial Day floods that also ravaged the region. Political and economic impact The disaster arrives just weeks before a special legislative session on grid modernization and wildfire prevention. Abbott pledged that flood-mitigation funding will be added to the agenda, arguing that “extreme weather is Texas’ new normal.” Early damage estimates top $6 billion, threatening tourism in the Hill Country’s peak summer season and putting renewed pressure on the state’s $13 billion rainy-day fund. How residents can get help Survivors can apply for FEMA aid at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA. Mental-health counselors are available through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s disaster distress helpline at 833-986-1919. Volunteers can sign up with the Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (Texas VOAD) for cleanup deployments starting July 10. What’s next Abbott will visit Marble Falls and Wimberley on Thursday to survey damage and meet with local officials. State climatologists warn additional thunderstorms are possible later this week, and the governor has pre-positioned high-water vehicles and Black Hawk helicopters in San Antonio and Austin for rapid deployment. Texans are urged to monitor weather alerts and heed road-closure signs: “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.” As Texas begins the long recovery, Abbott called for unity. “We will rebuild stronger than before,” he said. “Texans helping Texans is what gets us through the darkest storms.”