FEMA will tour damage from last weekend's tornadoes this week to decide whether the area is eligible for a federal disaster declaration. FEMA is touring damage in Garland today, will stop in Richardson tomorrow and Dallas Wednesday.
"They're kind of grading our homework and looking for themselves to see if we can open some assistance through a presidential declaration," says Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.
Jenkins says the tornadoes caused more than $2 billion in damage. He says FEMA will be looking for at least $38.4 million in uninsured losses.
Jenkins says crews will show FEMA representatives areas they believe qualify North Texas for the presidential declaration. He says cities, counties and school districts are working together to clear damage as quickly as possible.
"I know people are getting frustrated out there. I understand that; I'm frustrated, too," he says. "Believe me, our first responders and contractors who are clearing debris are working around the clock to get things back as close to normal as quickly as we can."
In Dallas, Mayor Eric Johnson says teams are starting debris pick-up, and they will work in grids until all debris is collected. He says Atmos Energy is conducting surveys to find potential damage. He says traffic lights at the intersection of Royal Lane and the Dallas North Tollway are still flashing due to electrical damage.
Jenkins says assistance centers will remain open at least through Friday at the Church of Latter-Day Saints:
9509 Midway Road
Dallas, TX 75220
and the Richardson Senior Center:
411 W Arapaho Rd
Richardson, TX 75080-4551
Jenkins says a decision could come from the federal government within a week. Governor Greg Abbott issued a state disaster declaration last Sunday.