Obama Declares Emergency In Texas

(NewsCore) - U.S. President Barack Obama declared an emergency in Texas Tuesday as tropical storm Alex gathered strength.

Federal aid would be made available to supplement state and local response efforts, a White House press release said.

Obama's action also authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate disaster relief efforts -- in such areas as identifying, mobilizing and providing equipment and resources.

The president's announcement comes after Texas Governor Rick Perry sent a letter to Obama requesting a pre-landfall emergency declaration.

Authorities issued hurricane warnings in Texas and northeastern Mexico Tuesday as forecasters predicted that Alex would reach hurricane strength within hours, AFP reported.

On its current path the center of Alex will make landfall just south of the U.S.-Mexico border late Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said.

Alex appeared to be well southwest of the area worst hit by the massive BP oil spill -- the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida -- though its strong winds will cause problems for the clean-up effort.

FEMA has already urged Americans to closely monitor the storm and be as prepared as possible.

"The most important thing for people living in the area to do right now is to ensure their family is prepared and to follow the instructions of state and local officials," said FEMA chief Craig Fugate.

(This article is provided by NewsCore, which aggregates news from around News Corporation.)