Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has taken steps to assess storm damage in Northeast Texas by directing the Texas Division of Emergency Management to work with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). State and local partners will be part of this joint preliminary damage assessment process. This collaboration aims to establish whether the area meets the criteria for federal disaster assistance.

Governor Abbott emphasized the urgency of the situation: "Communities in North Texas continue to recover from severe weather that hit over the weekend," adding, "Today, I requested that the U.S. Small Business Administration join state and local officials to assess storm damage to homes and businesses to see if Texas qualifies for low-interest loans critical to rebuild impacted communities. I thank the Texas Division of Emergency Management for working tirelessly with local partners to ensure communities in North Texas meet the eligibility requirements for additional financial assistance."

Residents of Texas affected by the severe weather are encouraged to report any damage to homes or businesses. This can be done through the Texas Division of Emergency Management's Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) by visiting damage.tdem.texas.gov when conditions are safe. The information collected will assist officials in pinpointing affected areas and facilitating access to resources for Texans in need.

In anticipation of the severe weather threats, Governor Abbott had previously activated state emergency resources. This comprised Texas Highway Patrol Troopers, rescue boat teams, and helicopters equipped with hoist capabilities to aid in the emergency response efforts.