Updated 9:45 p.m.

On Friday night, the Federal Emergency Management Agency granted Gov. Greg Abbott's request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration in response to Hurricane Harvey.

The request allows for individual assistance, public assistance and hazard mitigation for areas affected by the hurricane.

"I want to thank the president and FEMA for their quick response in granting this disaster declaration," Abbott said in a statement. "We will continue to work with our federal and local partners on all issues relating to this storm, and I encourage Texans to continue heeding all warnings from local officials."



Posted 2:04 p.m.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a request Friday for a Presidential Disaster Declaration in anticipation of destruction from Hurricane Harvey.



“I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments, and that supplementary federal assistance is necessary to save lives and protect property, public healthy and safety, or to lessen or avert the treat of a disaster,” Abbott wrote in the request submitted to President Donald Trump on Friday.

If the request is granted, the state would receive individual assistance, public assistance and hazard mitigation for the affected areas, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

On Wednesday, Abbott issued a state of disaster declaration for 30 counties in Southeast and coastal Texas.

The federal disaster declaration request indicates how Harvey “rapidly intensified” from a tropical depression to a potential Category 4. It is expected to have winds at 135 mph and could produce a storm surge above 9 feet in coastal areas, according to the request.

In his request to Trump, Abbott emphasized the state is already engaged in recovery efforts for 15 other federal disaster declarations, including recovery from Hurricanes Rita and Ike and the 2011 wildfires.