BEAUMONT, Texas — In response to the recent severe storms and flooding in East Texas, Texas Division of Emergency Management has initiated a major step towards assessing the extent of the damage.
TDEM announced its request for officials from the U.S. Small Business Administration to collaborate with local and state authorities in conducting joint preliminary damage assessments.
The decision to seek SBA involvement was made under the direction of Governor Greg Abbott, according to a release.
This assessment will help determine if Texas qualifies for additional federal disaster assistance to aid communities affected by the storm and flooding.
The federal assessment teams are scheduled to arrive later this week.
“TDEM and our state agency partners continue to make all disaster recovery resources available to Texans impacted by recent flooding and this is the next step in that process,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “The information learned by conducting these joint preliminary damage assessments with local, state, and federal partners will help determine whether Texas will be eligible for various forms of disaster assistance.”
Officials are still reviewing disaster damage information self-reported by Texans through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool surveys.
Those affected can also report wildfire damage using the iSTAT damage survey when it's safe to do so.
Here's some of the latest actions by the State of Texas as officials to provide all available resources to help support local communities from the impacts of severe weather, including:
- Readying state emergency response resources ahead of severe weather threats.
- Mobilizing state emergency response resources ahead of severe storms expected to impact the state.
- Deploying additional state emergency response resources ahead of severe storms and flash flooding.
- Issuing a disaster declaration for East Texas counties impacted by severe storms and flooding.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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