Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to seek collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for joint preliminary damage assessments in South Texas. The region was recently affected by severe storms, and these assessments aim to determine if Texas qualifies for federal disaster assistance.

"As South Texas communities recover from last week's storm damage, the State of Texas continues to provide all necessary resources to help Texans rebuild," stated Governor Abbott. He further explained that he has requested SBA's involvement "to assess storm damage to homes and businesses in affected communities." This initiative is crucial for determining eligibility for low-interest loans, providing financial aid necessary for rebuilding efforts.

Texans are encouraged to report any storm-related damages via TDEM's Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT). Information submitted through this survey is essential for identifying impacted areas and facilitating resource allocation.

In anticipation of the severe weather, Governor Abbott had already activated state emergency response resources to assist local officials and first responders in managing weather-related operations.