Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday added Bastrop County to the federal disaster declaration granted for Texas in response to damage caused by Hurricane Harvey, opening the door for individual and public assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the county’s addition to the declaration.

"While the road to recovery is a difficult one, Texas remains committed to helping the victims as long as it may take," Abbott said in a statement. "I am pleased with the work of our federal partners to help Texas get critical resources to those in need. Rebuilding after a disaster is no small feat, but I have no doubt we will recover stronger than ever before."

Abbott added Bastrop, Austin, Dewitt, Gonzales, Karnes, Lavaca and Lee counties to the declaration, bringing the total to 43 counties receiving federal assistance as of Monday. Abbott has issued a state disaster declaration for 58 counties.

Homeowners and renters in Bastrop County who are uninsured or underinsured are urged to register with FEMA to begin the process for individual assistance. Residents can register online at disasterassistance.gov or by phone at 1-800-621-3362.

Residents should have the following when registering for federal assistance:

• Address with zip code

• Directions to your property

• Condition of your damaged home

• Insurance information, if available

• Social security number

• Phone number

• Mailing address

Hurricane Harvey slammed into the Texas coast as a Category 4 hurricane. In Bastrop County, the system had become a tropical storm before unleashing between 10 to 29 inches of rain across the county.

In Smithville, which received more than 23 inches of rain, at least 100 homes suffered property damage, including at least 30 with substantial flood damage, Mayor Scott Saunders has estimated.

Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape has said commissioners are still assessing damage to roads and bridges across their precincts, many of which have had damage pile on top of damage after five major floods in two years.

Aside from Monday’s declaration, Bastrop County has received federal disaster declarations for floods in May and October 2015, as well as for floods in April and May 2016.

"The repetitiveness of these natural disasters put pressure on our county, but it also puts pressure on our citizens," Pape said last week. "There’s something called battle fatigue, and some of our residents have lost their homes or suffered property damage several times in the past two years."

On Monday, FEMA also granted Abbott’s request for Community Disaster Loan assistance for Texas cities impacted by the storm.

Cities recovering from Harvey can now receive funding to help maintain their operating budgets and continue their full operations while focusing on rebuilding their communities.

"The quick and focused work of our federal partners in response to Hurricane Harvey has been essential to the recovery effort in Texas," Abbott said. "These loans are critical to providing cities with the resources and flexibility to recover while still providing important services to the Texans in their communities.