Abbott conducts post-storm call with county judges 'to determine what further support is needed'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sept. 15 contacted county judges in the Greater Houston area to discuss any actions that could be taken following Hurricane Nicholas. 

Nicholas came ashore near Sargent in Matagorda County as a Category 1 hurricane at around 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 14.

"Calling county judges near Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Houston and Victoria today to determine what further support is needed following #Nicholas," Abbott tweeted.

A press release issued by the Office of the Texas Governor said Abbott and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd thanked the county judges for their efforts in steering their jurisdictions through the hurricane.

After pummeling the Texas coast, Nicholas has downgraded to a tropical storm and proceeded to head toward Louisiana.

Any flooding fears triggered by the storm's approach were unfounded as Nicholas lashed the region with its winds, which caused power lines to temporarily fail and plunge thousands into darkness.

Nicholas inflicted major water or wind damage, but no county judge reported major damage or unmet needs to Abbott and Kidd, the governor's office reported.

Abbott declared a state of disaster for the following 17 counties ahead of Nicholas: Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio and Victoria.

Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta, Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Jackson County Judge Jill S. Sklar, Liberty County Judge Jay Knight, Matagorda County Judge Nate McDonald, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, and Wharton County Judge Phillip Spenrath each spoke with the governor and Kidd, the release said.

"As Hurricane Nicholas recovery efforts begin, the State of Texas is working closely with our local partners to ensure Houston and surrounding communities have the resources they need to rebuild," the governor said in the release. "We will continue to collaborate with county judges and local leaders to assess and address the damages of the storm and put the Gulf Coast on a path to recovery."