Dallas, Kaufman counties added to federal disaster declaration; FEMA opening recovery centers

Residents in Dallas and Kaufman counties, who were impacted by severe weather last week, can now seek assistance from FEMA.

Dallas County officials announced on Wednesday that the Biden Administration approved the addition of Dallas County to the Presidential Disaster Declaration. This declaration makes residents eligible to apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program to address damages caused by storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding. Currently, nine North Texas counties are covered under this declaration.

Dallas County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins expressed gratitude for the declaration, stating that it would provide much-needed aid to residents affected by severe weather. The Individual Assistance program offers support for various expenses such as temporary housing, emergency home repairs, personal property losses, legal services, and medical expenses related to the disaster.

Renters and homeowners in several affected counties can apply for FEMA assistance, including those in Bell, Calhoun, Collin, Cooke, Denton, Eastland, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Liberty, Montague, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, and Waller counties. FEMA grants aim to cover essential needs like temporary housing, personal property replacement, transportation, childcare, and other uninsured expenses.

Disaster Recovery Centers have been established in Denton, Eastland, and Waller counties, providing personalized assistance to affected Texans. These centers operate daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering support from FEMA representatives and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Additionally, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) in five more counties affected by severe weather. Workers and self-employed individuals in these counties can apply for DUA benefits online or by phone, specifying their applications’ relation to severe weather damage. The deadline for DUA applications is July 16, 2024.

TWC encourages individuals to report damage using the online Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) to aid emergency officials in assessing federal assistance eligibility.