Joe Biden to declare disaster for Texas amid winter storm

by · Buzz.ie

Joe Biden has confirmed he will approve a disaster declaration for Texas. 

Joe Biden is to declare a disaster for the state of Texas.

It comes after a winter storm has left 13 million people with a boil water notice.

Millions have dealt with power outages, and nearly half of Texans struggled on Friday with disrupted water services.

Nearly two dozen deaths have been attributed to the storm and a cold snap.

13 million people remain under boil-water advisories after freezing temperatures overwhelmed systems providing clean water.

The administration of more than 400,000 first doses and 330,000 second doses of the coronavirus vaccines were also delayed in Texas as a result of the storm.

People wait in line to enter Fiesta supermarket in Austin, Texas on February 18, 2021. (Photo by Mario Cantu/CSM/Sipa USA)

Six million doses of coronavirus vaccines had been held up because of snowstorms nationally, the White House said.

The death toll across the country has climbed to 58, with many of the fatalities linked to the electricity crisis in Texas.

As people in the state surveyed the damage, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state’s energy grid, said there was no longer a need for rotating outages.

The disaster declaration will unlock more Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources for Texas.

The president said he'll sign the declaration Friday, after he signed an emergency declaration for the state five days ago.

The president also said he plans to visit Texas, but wants to wait until his presence won't be a burden or hinder the disaster relief response.