The political firestorm over the Obama administration's decision not to declare Texas a disaster area has spread almost as fast as the wildfires that ignited it.
Gov. Rick Perry, who in April requested a federal disaster declaration to cover 252 of the state's 254 counties, has been joined by the state's two U.S. senators and other politicians in expressing outrage over the denial, suggesting the decision has more to do with politics than sound judgment.
The governor notes that in the past six months there were more than 9,000 Texas wildfires that scorched more than 2.2 million acres and destroyed more than 400 homes. He also points out that the president was quick to declare portions of Alabama a disaster after ravaging tornadoes -- the worst outbreak since the 1930s -- ripped through the South last month.
The fire destruction in several Texas counties was devastating by any measure. That does not necessarily make virtually the entire state eligible for a federal disaster declaration. Palo Pinto County, one of the hardest hit in recent weeks, would not qualify for federal disaster aid, County Judge Davie Nicklas said, because the vast majority of the homes destroyed were vacation houses rather than primary residences. "We're still researching whether we're missing out on other kinds of help because they didn't declare a disaster," Nicklas told the Star-Telegram. "But right now it doesn't look like we'll take a big hit because of it."
Although an argument can be made for specific counties to be designated disaster areas, it is not constructive for state officials to engage in yet another public spat with Washington.
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http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/05/05/3054548/texas-argument-about-a-federal.html#ixzz1LcN15OS1