Governor Abbott Requests Federal Assistance After North Texas Flooding
Governor Greg Abbott today requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for Texas communities affected by last month's major flooding in North Texas. An SBA designation would make federal disaster assistance available for those impacted in Dallas County and its contiguous counties: Collin, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall, and Tarrant.
"The State of Texas continues working to ensure Texans impacted by flooding last month are able to receive the assistance and support needed to recover," said Governor Abbott. "If approved, Dallas County and surrounding North Texas residents and businesses would be able to access long-term, low-interest loans through the SBA to cope with economic injury and physical damage to homes and businesses. I thank TDEM for working with the SBA to determine the state's assistance eligibility, and I look forward to the SBA helping Texans recover and move forward."
Last week, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to begin discussions with the SBA and share necessary documentation to determine Texas' eligibility for assistance following last month's flooding in North Texas. Local, state, and federal officials have completed damage assessments in North Texas, which verify that Dallas County meets the federally required thresholds for SBA assistance. Officials have also reviewed damage assessment information provided by Texans utilizing the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT).
If approved, the program would provide long-term, low-interest loans through the SBA’s disaster grant programs to qualifying Texans whose homes and businesses sustained damage.