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NBC 5 is teaming up with the Red Cross and Kroger to assist Texans affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. People can go to any Kroger in DFW and drop loose change into coin boxes located at every checkout stand. The money goes directly to support disaster relief efforts for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. |
President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration amid the severe weather in Texas, offering federal funding to affected people in Harris, Hays and Van Zandt counties, the White House said in a statement early Saturday.
In a statement issued by the White House "Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster."
FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
Damage surveys are also being conducted in other areas and additional counties may be designated for assistance according to FEMA.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott had earlier requested a presidential disaster declaration to get federal help for affected counties.
On Friday Gov. Abbott declared a state of disaster in 24 additional counties affected by severe weather. A total of 70 counties are now under the Texas' state disaster declaration according to the governor's office.
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The latest news from around North Texas.
To view Abbott's disaster declaration, click here.
The counties added to the declaration on Friday include: Angelina, Burleson, Cherokee, Edwards, Ellis, Fayette, Gillespie, Kaufman, Lamar, Liberty, Leon, Lynn, Madison, Milam, Real, Refugio, Rusk, Sabine, Travis, Tyler, Uvalde, Victoria, Waller and Wharton.
The following resources are involved in the state’s continued response to this weather event:
- Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS): Assisting with reconnaissance, search and rescue efforts, and providing personnel and resources as needed.
- Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD): Conducting search and rescue missions during flash flooding/water incidents in affected areas.
- Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS): DSHS have mobilized resources, equipment and personnel to provide medical assistance as needed.
- Texas Military Forces (TMF): TMF has deployed aircraft and high-profile vehicles, and continues providing assistance with search and rescue missions as needed.
- Texas Task Force 1 (TTF1): Air and boat rescue squads have been deployed for search and rescue missions as needed.
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ): Continues to monitor dams and river levels in the affected areas.
- Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT): Crews have deployed resources to address flooding conditions and debris cleanup impacting roadways.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC): Personnel continue to work with utility companies to resolve power/utility issues.
- Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA): Assisting communities to apply for funds administered by TDA that will help with storm cleanup and rebuilding.
- Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD): Organizations continue to provide shelter and other mass care needs as requested.
Additional partners and resources include: Texas A&M Forest Service; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service; Civil Air Patrol; Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; Texas General Land Office; Texas Health and Human Services Commission; Texas Department of Insurance; Railroad Commission of Texas; Texas Education Agency; Department of Aging and Disability Services; Department of Family and Protective Services; Texas Workforce Commission; Texas Animal Health Commission; Texas 2-1-1; and Texas Department of Information Resources.
The following 70 counties have been declared in a state of disaster: Angelina, Archer, Bastrop, Blanco, Bosque, Bowie, Burleson, Caldwell, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Collin, Comal, Cooke, Denton, Dewitt, Eastland, Edwards, Ellis, Fannin, Fayette, Gaines, Garza, Gillespie, Grayson, Grimes, Guadalupe, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hood, Houston, Jasper, Johnson, Kaufman, Kendall, Lamar, Leon, Liberty, Lynn, Madison, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Parker, Real, Red River, Refugio, Rusk, Sabine, San Jacinto, Smith, Travis, Tyler, Uvalde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Wharton, Wichita, Williamson, Wilson, Wise and Zavala.
