More counties added to disaster status after recent storms

AUSTIN – Gov. Greg Abbott last week added five counties to the state’s disaster declaration for Texas communities impacted by recent severe weather.

The counties added include Dallas, Fannin, Hockley, Lynn, and Rockwall. Additional counties may be added later as damage assessments are completed.

“Texas is adding five counties to the state’s disaster declaration to ensure Texans have all the assistance and resources they need to rebuild and recover,” Abbott said. “I encourage every Texan who sustained damage to their home or business to report it using the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s iSTAT damage survey.”

The iSTAT tool helps determine if counties are eligible for additional financial assistance “I thank all the emergency response personnel and first responders who are working tirelessly to help their fellow Texans move forward from these devastating storms,” Abbott added.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a request to add three more counties impacted by severe weather to the Presidential Disaster Declaration. FEMA has added Bell, Henderson and Tyler counties to become eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program.

The Individual Assistance Program funding assists with expenses such as temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment assistance and medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the disaster.

Qualifying Texans in the following counties are eligible to apply: Bell, Calhoun, Collin, Cooke, Denton, Eastland, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Liberty, Montague, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker and Waller.

Texans can apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.

Abbott’s request for Individual Assistance remains under FEMA’s review for Austin, Coryell, Dallas, Ellis, Falls, Hockley, Kaufman, Leon, Navarro and Smith counties. Additional counties may be added as additional damage assessments are completed in affected communities.

State emergency response and recovery resources remain engaged in support of local officials in communities impacted by severe storms and flooding that began on April 26.

Texans who experienced property damage are urged to report their damages utilizing the online Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) damage survey by visiting damage. tdem.texas.gov. This will help officials connect impacted Texans with resources and services. Additionally, once those damages are reported to the state, officials can work to determine whether they meet the federally set thresholds for federal disaster assistance.