Governor Abbott Requests an SBA Disaster Declaration for El Paso County Flooding
If the U.S. Small Business Administration approves the request, low-interest federal disaster loans would open to El Paso County homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofits hit by late-October storms and flooding in Far West Texas. A state disaster declaration for the county remains in effect, and damage reporting through TDEM's iSTAT tool stays open.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration for El Paso County, following severe storms and flooding that hit communities in Far West Texas late last month.
If the request is approved, the SBA declaration would make low-interest federal disaster loans available to eligible homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations in the county, to help with recovery and rebuilding. Abbott said the request will help provide eligible Texans with access to the low-interest disaster loans they need to rebuild their homes, businesses and communities.
The request follows an analysis of the damage in the impacted communities conducted by local, state and federal officials. Texans affected by the flooding are encouraged to keep reporting damage to homes and businesses through the Texas Division of Emergency Management's Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool, iSTAT, online at damage.tdem.texas.gov; the reports help officials assess the extent of the damage and identify further recovery needs.
A state disaster declaration Abbott issued for El Paso County remains in effect while state resources continue supporting local recovery efforts. The SBA had not announced a decision on the request in any announcement read by this desk on Thursday.
