The Texas Division of Emergency Management is collecting data about damage from Monday's severe weather that hit several parts of the state. Information on damage to public infrastructure and individual homes will be used as part of the state's application for federal disaster assistance.
"The way the federal government offers aid to states is based on a formula of population. For the damages to infrastructure, we need about $50 million of uninsured loss state-wide in order to get public assistance from FEMA turned on," said TDEM Chief Nim Kidd. "To give money to people that own or rent homes I need about 800 homes across the state that have major damage that are uninsured."
He's urging homeowners to report their damage through his department's web site at damage.tdem.texas.gov.
The past week has been busy for the state's first-responders. Just a few days ago, they were focused on wildfires moving through Eastland County. Now, they're dealing with storm damage in more than a dozen counties state-wide.
"The state has abundant resources to be able to respond to all of these disasters. We are simultaneously helping people who have been victimized by tornadoes, as well as those victimized by fire, as well as dealing with blizzard up in the Panhandle," Governor Greg Abbott said during a visit to the town of Crockett in east Texas on Tuesday. "Whatever the weather, whatever the location...the State of Texas is ready to step up and help. Thanks to the members of the Legislature who are with us today, the State of Texas has the resources to be able to respond to all of these disasters."
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