Following Governor Greg Abbott's request, the U.S. Small Business Administration has issued a disaster declaration to help residents and business owners in Southeast Texas recover from December's tornadoes. The declaration covers Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties, according to the Office of the Texas Governor.
"The State of Texas continues working to provide Texans in Southeast Texas available resources and support to recover from tornadoes in December," Governor Abbott said. Affected individuals can now access Small Business Administration low-interest loan programs, including Home Disaster Loans, Business Physical Disaster Loans, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, to help homeowners, renters, and businesses rebuild, as reported by the Office of the Texas Governor.
Texans needing financial assistance can apply online through the Small Business Administration's website or contact the Customer Service Center, with relay services available for those with hearing or speech disabilities. Applications should be submitted to the Small Business Administration's Processing and Disbursement Center in Fort Worth, TX. Governor Abbott activated state resources and worked with the Texas Division of Emergency Management for damage assessments. "I thank the Texas Division of Emergency Management for working with our federal partners to ensure impacted Texans have the resources they need to move forward," said Governor Abbott, as stated by the Office of the Texas Governor.
