Texas – Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to request support from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as state and local officials begin preliminary damage assessments in regions affected by recent disasters across Texas.
The request covers communities in the Texas Panhandle impacted by recent wildfire activity, as well as areas in South Texas affected by severe storms in April. The assessments are intended to determine whether Texas meets federal thresholds required for additional disaster assistance.
Officials from the Texas Division of Emergency Management are working alongside local partners to collect and review damage data. The process includes coordination with federal officials to evaluate the scope of destruction and potential eligibility for financial relief programs.
Governor Abbott emphasized that the state will continue providing resources to local officials, first responders, and emergency management teams as recovery efforts continue.
“Texas will provide all necessary resources to local officials, first responders, and emergency management teams as they respond to recent severe weather events across the state,” Abbott said. He also noted that he requested SBA involvement to help ensure Texans receive additional financial relief if federal criteria are met.
Residents in affected areas are being urged to report property damage through the state’s Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) survey, available at damage.tdem.texas.gov. State officials said the data collected will help determine the overall scale of the disaster and guide decisions on additional assistance.
The information gathered through the survey will also support efforts to determine whether Texas qualifies for various forms of federal disaster aid as recovery operations continue across impacted communities.
