Texas Governor Greg Abbott has submitted a request for a disaster declaration to the US Small Business Administration.
The request covers Carson, Hemphill, and Hutchinson Counties in the Texas Panhandle, plus their surrounding counties. The region has suffered heavy damage in the past few weeks because of a series of wildfires.
If the SBA grants the request for a disaster declaration, homeowners and business owners in the region would be eligible for low-interest loans to help them repair fire damage.
“SBA assistance will be a critical step for Texans impacted by wildfires in the Panhandle toward recovering and rebuilding their communities," said Governor Abbott. "An approved SBA disaster declaration will give Texans access to crucial loans they need as they navigate the aftermath of these wildfires."
Texas has already issued a state disaster declaration for 60 counties in the Panhandle. The state has also received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a Fire Management Assistance Grant. That means Texas will be eligible for 75% reimbursement from the federal government for costs associated with fighting some of the Panhandle wildfires.