TDEM Announces Joint SBA Preliminary Damage Assessment Request For East Texas Storm Damage

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April 25, 2024
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TDEM Announces Joint SBA Preliminary Damage Assessment Request For East Texas Storm Damage

AUSTIN - The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) announced today that the agency has requested officials from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) join local and state partners in conducting joint preliminary damage assessments in East Texas communities impacted by recent severe storms and flooding to determine if Texas meets the threshold for additional federal disaster assistance.

The request was made at the direction of Governor Greg Abbott. The federal 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 continue to review disaster damage information self-reported by Texans through TDEM’s Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) surveys. Affected Texans are urged to report wildfire damage using the iSTAT damage surveys at damage.tdem.texas.gov when it is safe to return home. This information will help guide officials to areas where damage has occurred.

This is the latest action 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.