Cass County added to list of disaster areas

By Robin Aaron
raaron@casscountynow.com

Cass County has been declared a disaster area officially due to high rains and flooding damage to county roads. The Texas Governor’s office has declared 40 Texas counties as disaster areas as of May 27.
County Judge Becky Wilbanks submitted a letter to the state May 18 outlining Cass County’s problems and asking for assistance.
“As a result of excessive rain, wind and flooding that has occurred from January 1, 2015 to the present, Cass County is currently facing tremendous physical and economic losses,” Wilbanks wrote. “A large number of roads have been flooded, culverts washed away and roadbeds destroyed. Additionally, many trees have been downed due to high winds.
“The public works and road situation in Cass County has been affected to an extent that several homes have been isolated due to impassable road and water crossings,” she continued. “It is estimated that road and bridge damage will exceed $1,679,037.04. “It is my belief the damage to public works due to the rain, wind and flooding constitutes a public health and safety hazard. I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond Cass County’s capability to recover without supplementary State and/or Federal assistance. Additionally, I certify that Cass County does not have local funding available to make the needed repairs and to provide these citizens with effective relief.
“Your assistance in this emergency matter, as it affects the safety and health needs of our citizens, would be appreciated.”
Cass County was added to the state’s list of disaster areas, and according to Emergency Services Coordinator Robin Betts, he and other county and emergency services personnel have surveyed local roads to glean an estimated cost of the fixing the damage caused by high rainfall and flooding. Betts hopes to be approved for state funding to help the county fix the damage.
Some of the worst damage has been to Pct. 2, he said, where several roads and culverts have been washed out as rain and severe storms have pelted the area over the past months.
According to Pct. 2 Commissioner Jon Borseth, his precinct has closed certain roads due to conditions making them impassable. 
Those roads include CR 2343 between CR 2339 - 2345, CR 2467 and CR 2924.
Flooding continues to rise along the Red River and in other areas of the state. Gov. Greg Abbott recently told reporters of the widespread damage in Texas.
Referring to the  massive scope of flooding across the state, Abbott said he’s made disaster declarations “from literally the Red River to the Rio Grande.”