Governor Greg Abbott today announced his request for a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for Texas communities impacted by severe weather and tornadoes earlier this month in counties across Northeast Texas. An SBA disaster declaration would make federal disaster assistance available for those impacted in Lamar and Morris counties and their contiguous counties: Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Fannin, Marion, Red River, Titus, and Upshur.
“The State of Texas continues working to ensure North Texans impacted by the recent severe weather are able to receive the assistance and support they need to recover,” said Governor Abbott. “If approved, this designation would help communities in Northeast Texas access low-interest loans through the SBA to rebuild their homes and businesses that experienced physical or economic damage. I thank TDEM for working with the SBA to help determine the state’s eligibility for assistance. Together, we are helping Texans build back stronger after these storms.”
Following the severe weather earlier this month, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to work with local officials to identify damage in affected communities and work with the SBA to share necessary documentation to determine Texas’ eligibility for assistance. Local, state, and federal officials have completed damage assessments in impacted areas, verifying that Lamar and Morris counties meet the federally required thresholds for SBA assistance.
If approved, the program would provide long-term, low-interest loans through the SBA’s disaster grant programs to qualifying Texans homeowners, renters, and businesses owners who sustained damage and losses.
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