Governor Abbott Urges Texans to Report Winter Weather Damages
Governor Greg Abbott is urging Texans affected by recent winter weather, which brought ice, snow, and freezing temperatures across the state, to report property and agricultural damages through the Texas Division of Emergency Management's (TDEM) Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT).
“The State of Texas continues to deploy all necessary resources to help Texans respond to and recover from ice, snow, and freezing temperatures this week,” Governor Abbott said. “As communities begin the recovery process, I urge Texans to report damages to their homes or businesses or any agricultural losses through the iSTAT damage survey. This will help the state determine if we qualify for federal assistance. Texans should continue to monitor local weather forecasts and road conditions to keep yourself and your family safe. I thank Texas emergency management officials as they work around the clock to help Texans across the state recover from this winter storm.”
How Texans Can Report Winter Storm Damages
The iSTAT damage survey is available in English and Spanish at damage.tdem.texas.gov. Impacted residents can click on “January 20th Winter Weather” to document their property damage. Completing the survey is voluntary and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance. Texans are reminded that the iSTAT survey is not a substitute for reporting damages to their insurance provider.
The information gathered through the iSTAT tool provides critical details to state emergency management teams. It helps assess the severity and extent of the damage while supporting efforts to qualify the state for federal disaster assistance programs. Resources, including video tutorials on how to complete the survey, are also available on the website.
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Statewide Response and Recovery Efforts
The Texas State Operations Center remains at Level II (Escalated Response) to coordinate support for local officials as recovery efforts continue. State officials are working with utility regulators to restore power in areas affected by localized outages caused by the winter storm.
Additionally, hazardous road conditions persist in some areas due to overnight refreezing of melted snow and ice. Texans are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel and heed warnings from local officials. Winter weather resources, including a map of licensed plumbers and a list of warming centers, can be accessed through the Texas Disaster Portal.
Helping Texas Recover from Winter Storms
By reporting damages through the iSTAT tool, Texans play an important role in aiding recovery efforts and helping determine if federal disaster assistance is available. The state continues to prioritize the deployment of resources to address the needs of affected communities.
For additional support, updates, and safety information, Texans are encouraged to visit the TDEM website and follow instructions from local authorities.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
