Limits on who can be released without paying bail and difficulties hiring guards worsen the situation.

The plans, which are required by the federal government to access certain grants after a natural disaster, are laborious to assemble — especially for rural counties.

Abbott confirmed three deaths from the storms, none were recorded from flooded areas.

East Texans worry they could miss out on federal dollars because a state map that will help determine where the money goes shows they already have access to broadband. Residents say their broadband is chronically unreliable.