Young among counties in disaster declaration

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday issued a drought-related disaster declaration for 72 of the state’s 254 counties, including Young and surrounding counties. In his declaration, Abbott said, “significantly low rainfall and prolonged dry conditions continue to increase the threat of wildfire across many portions of the state,” posing an “imminent threat to public health, property and the economy.” The declaration means the governor is authorizing state resources be used to cope with the disaster, and rules or regulations that would slow response be suspended. The state of disaster includes Armstrong, Andrews, Archer, Bastrop, Baylor, Bell, Bosque, Briscoe, Burnet, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Coryell, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Erath, Falls, Floyd, Foard, Gaines, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hamilton, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Haskell, Hemphill, Hill, Hutchinson, Johnson, Kent, King, Knox, Lee, Limestone, Lipscomb, Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, McLennan, Milam, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Robertson, Shackelford, Sherman, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Swisher, Throckmorton, Travis, Wheeler, Wilbarger, Williamson, Winkler, Yoakum and Young counties.