Feds Declare 213 Texas Counties as Drought Disaster Zones

Calling it “one of the worst droughts in more than a century”, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has named 213 of Texas’ 254 counties as primary natural disaster areas. The measure allows farmers and ranchers to apply for federal disaster aid. The remaining 41 counties also qualify for assistance because they are contiguous.

The drought could cost ranchers and farmers more than $4 billion this year, according to the Associated Press.

The Lower Colorado River Authority’s drought page says almost two-thirds of the state – and virtually all of Central Texas – is in exceptional drought, the most intense category used by the US Drought Monitor.

The drought is garnering national attention: CBS News filed this report from Crawford.