Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved Texas' request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant to aid in combating the Pauline Road Fire, which is affecting San Jacinto and Montgomery counties.

"Texas continues to provide all necessary resources to local officials and firefighters currently battling the Pauline Road Fire in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties," stated Governor Abbott. "This crucial grant will help Texas fight this wildfire and protect the safety and well-being of Texans. I encourage Texans in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties to heed the guidance of local officials and take the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Texas remains engaged alongside our federal, state, and local partners to ensure our brave firefighters have the resources they need to protect our fellow Texans."

The grant approval allows Texas to receive 75 percent reimbursement from the federal government for costs incurred while fighting the fire. These grants are provided for mitigating, managing, and controlling fires on public or private forests or grasslands that could lead to major disasters.

Under Governor Abbott's direction, several state emergency response resources are actively supporting local efforts:

- The Texas A&M Forest Service provides personnel, equipment, and aircraft for firefighting.

- The Texas Division of Emergency Management offers incident management support.

- The Texas National Guard deploys helicopters with firefighting capabilities.

- Other agencies like the Department of State Health Services, Department of Public Safety, Parks and Wildlife Department, among others, contribute with various forms of assistance including medical support packages, patrol services, search and rescue teams, agricultural support, utility monitoring, environmental quality checks, technology infrastructure oversight.

Texans affected by wildfires can find resources at disaster.texas.gov or report damages through TDEM’s online survey at damage.tdem.texas.gov. The Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) helps assess damage but is not a replacement for insurance claims.

Governor Abbott urges residents to continue taking preventive measures against wildfires by making emergency plans and following official instructions. Additional information can be found at TexasReady.gov for wildfire tips.

Governor Abbott has been proactive in securing resources for communities impacted by wildfires across the state. His actions include obtaining multiple Fire Management Assistance Grants for different fires such as Double S Fire and Rest Area Fire among others.