US President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Texas on Saturday as the state struggles with the fallout from a winter storm that killed at least two dozen people and caused widespread blackouts and water shortages.
Millions of residents in the United States’ biggest oil and gas producer have had to contend with days of electricity outages, and nearly half of all Texans are still suffering from disruptions to their water service.
Lina Hidalgo, the top elected official in Harris County,which encompasses Houston, said on Friday authorities were reporting 10 deaths due to hypothermia.
Half of the state is under a boil-water advisory after water treatment centers experienced blackouts. Even those with access to safe water have been told to turn off their water, for fear thawing pipes will burst, causing flooding.
Anger has spread over attempts to spread blame for the crisis among elected Republican officials at state and federal levels.
Rick Perry, a former governor, US energy secretary and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, was widely ridiculed after he said “Texans would be without electricity for longer than three days to keep
