Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday issued a disaster declaration for Lamar County, Parker County and Wise County as severe storms returned to North Texas and recovery crews kept working after deadly weekend tornadoes.
The declaration lets the state move more resources into the region and speeds recovery for residents hit by the storms. Abbott said Texas is ready to respond to the severe weather threats moving across the state and directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to work with federal partners so every possible resource is available to communities.
The order now covers three North Texas counties, and Abbott said more could be added as the weather system advances. He also told state emergency managers to seek help from the U.S. Small Business Administration in preliminary damage assessments, while residents were urged to report property damage through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool survey.
The move came as the National Weather Service warned that large hail, damaging winds and possible tornadoes could continue across North and East Texas over the next several days. State resources were already spread thin, with officials also tracking critical wildfire danger in West Texas and the Panhandle.
A wide array of assets remained deployed, including swiftwater rescue teams from Texas A&M Task Force 1, saw crews from the Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Department of Public Safety helicopters equipped with hoist capabilities. For families in Parker County and Wise County still picking through the damage from the weekend tornadoes, the declaration means state help can keep arriving while the storms are still coming.
