Governor issues disaster declaration for storm-stricken counties

State Capital Highlights


 

After severe weather struck north and east Texas on Oct. 20, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration naming a list of counties in that region.

Among the counties named are: Cass, Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Erath, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Panola, Rains, Rockwall, Rusk, Tarrant, Van Zandt and Wood.

“By issuing this declaration, Texas is providing local officials with the resources they need to quickly respond and recover from this storm,” Abbott said. In addition to providing access to state resources, the declaration waived certain regulations to make it easier for utility companies to bring in out of state resources to assist in restoring power.

The storm brought high winds, heavy rains and at least four tornadoes. Tornadic action ravaged a swath 40 miles long through the Dallas area, causing widespread destruction in residential areas and businesses, forcing many closures and resulting in the loss of electrical power to tens of thousands of customers.

Damages attributed to the storm, currently estimated at more than $2 billion, continue to be updated.

Report: The digital divide

More than two million Texas households still do not have access to highspeed internet service.

Those findings are included in the top story of the October edition of “Fiscal Notes,” a monthly publication produced by the comptroller’s office.

The story says the digital divide between urban and rural Texans “has serious implications for education, telemedicine, agriculture and small business.”

Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar commented about the story in an Oct. 23 news release, saying, “It’s a wired world today and we can’t expect our state to flourish unless we make sure as many Texans as possible have access to dependable high-speed internet for everything from educational and medical services to agricultural technology and online

Update:sales.”

Vaping, lung issues

The Texas Department of State Health Services has identified 147 Texas cases of severe lung disease in people who reported they had “vaped” before developing symptoms. One of the patients has died.

In its Oct. 22 weekly update on the use of ecigarettes (“vaping”) and lung disease, the agency reported that state health officials are gathering more information about 17 other possible cases to determine whether they are consistent with the symptoms and substance use seen in cases in Texas and 48 other states.

Respiratory symptoms include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and coughing. Some people have also experienced nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Clinicians are urged to ask patients with these symptoms about a history of vaping, gather as much information as possible about suspected cases, and report them to DSHS.

Nationally, 1,479 cases have been reported. The DSHS and agencies in other states are working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to gather evidence about what the cases have in common and to determine a cause.

ED STERLING is the Director of Member Services at Texas Press Association.

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