White House issues disaster declaration for South Texas

President George W. Bush issued a disaster declaration for South Texas because of the ravaging winds and rain from Hurricane Dolly.

The Disaster Declaration allows state, county and city government entities to petition the federal government for aid to help with the cleanup.

The declaration affects the following South Texas counties: Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria and Willacy.

The declaration does not allow residents to apply for federal disaster relief. An announcement on disaster relief could come at a later time, said Cari Lambrecht, a spokeswoman for Hidalgo County.