Texas – Governor Greg Abbott moved immediately to assist Southeast Texas communities devastated by recent tornadoes and heavy weather. In a Tuesday statement, the governor said he had instructed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to work with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on joint early damage forecasts. Whether Texas qualifies for extra federal disaster relief money will depend much on these assessments.
“Today, I requested the U.S. Small Business Administration join our state and local officials to begin preliminary damage assessments so we can better help our fellow Texans recover quickly from damage caused by the recent storms and tornadoes,” said Governor Abbott in a press release on December 31.
“This assistance will be a critical first step for Texans to begin to rebuild and recover in Southeast Texas. All Texans impacted by these storms are urged to report sustained damages to their homes or businesses through TDEM’s iSTAT survey.”
The combined effort is proactive, meant to alleviate the significant damage the storms left behind. Federal teams are scheduled to arrive on Monday to collaborate with state and local authorities. To determine the degree of the damage and identify eligibility for federal disaster aid programs, they will evaluate the effects on homes, businesses, and other vital infrastructure taken together.
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Officials are calling impacted Texans to participate actively in their recovery. Residents and business owners who have experienced storm damage are encouraged to report their losses through TDEM’s Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) survey. Accessible at damage.tdem.texas.gov, this self-reporting system serves as a key tool for guiding assessment teams to the most affected areas.
Ensuring no neighborhood or home is left behind, the iSTAT survey acts as a link between residents and state officials. Particularly if they have been displaced or are waiting for the restoration of essential services, Texans are advised to only complete the survey when it is safe to do so.
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This project emphasizes the willingness of the government to speed relief initiatives. Working together, the SBA, TDEM, and local officials offer a consistent front in responding to the needs of Southeast Texans dealing with the aftermath of these devastating storms.
The objective is still quite apparent when tests start: to offer quick help and create conditions for sustained recovery. Although rebuilding may be difficult, Governor Abbott’s forceful response gives impacted Texans hope and comfort knowing help is on its way.
Right now, everyone is focused on the federal and state teams scheduled to start their assessments in the next few days. Their results will not only define the availability of extra disaster help but also open the path for Texans to start recovering their homes, companies, and lives.
