President Donald Trump signed a "Major Disaster Declaration" on Sunday for the deadly floods in Kerr County, Texas, as rescue and recovery efforts enter their third day.
Trump said he is sending federal resources to the area in response to the catastrophic flooding.
"Individual Assistance and Public Assistance will be provided," the letter states.
Any federal funds provided under the Other Needs Assistance component of the Stafford Act for Public Assistance will cover 75 percent of the total eligible costs in the designated areas. Additionally, federal funds provided under Stafford Act also will be limited to 75 percent of the total eligible costs.
At least 78 people are confirmed dead and more than 850 others have been rescued, according to officials.
In the early hours of the Fourth of July, heavy flooding from intense rainfall suddenly hit Texas Hill Country, about 85 miles northwest of San Antonio.
The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, according to state officials.
People along the river were airlifted to safety by helicopter, including those clinging to trees and girls at Camp Mystic.
The unexpected flash flooding event caused widespread devastation ahead of the holiday weekend.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem activated the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Coast Guard to help local and state officials deal with the disaster.
"Our incredible U.S. Coast Guard, together with State First Responders, have saved more than 850 lives. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!" Trump added.
An initial flood watch was issued by the local National Weather Service (NWS) office at 1:18 p.m. on Thursday predicting between 5 to 7 inches of rain.
In the early hours Friday, NWS sent out a series of flash flood warnings before issuing flash flood emergencies—a rare alert notifying of imminent danger.
Local officials didn't expect the severity of the floods.The quick and intense downpour was the equivalent of a month's worth of rain for the area.
Lawmakers addressed scrutiny of the local response.
“There’s going to be a lot of finger-pointing, a lot of second-guessing and Monday morning quarterbacking,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Tex.) whose district includes Kerr County. “There’s a lot of people saying ‘why’ and ‘how,’ and I understand that.”
Noem during a press conference on Saturday afternoon addressed perceived notification failures, saying the administration is working on updating the "neglected" and "ancient" weather systems of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NWS.
While weather is difficult to predict, Noem said, officials and citizens have expressed the need for quicker warning and clearer notification before deadly weather.
More rain was expected in the area on Sunday. The NWS issued a flood watch for Kerr County, the epicenter of the disaster, until 1 p.m. local time.