Texas extends disaster help for Hurricane Harvey-hit counties

HOUSTON, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) - Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Monday extended the disaster status for the state's counties affected by Hurricane Harvey, allowing them to continue receiving assistance.

"The proclamation will ensure that all Texas counties declared disaster areas will continue to be eligible for assistance as they recover and rebuild after Hurricane Harvey," a press release issued by the governor's office said.

Currently, 60 counties are included in the state disaster declaration.

The declarations must be renewed every 30 days for the assistance to continue. Abbott will continue to do so, the release said.

Harvey, the most powerful hurricane to hit the state in over 50 years, blew ashore on Aug. 25, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and damaging nearly 200,000 homes. Enditem