It also helps officials figure out if Texas can receive federal disaster assistance as a result of the storm. Gov. Greg Abbott has not issued a statewide disaster declaration, but various counties in Central and North Texas have filed local declarations. A state disaster declaration would likely make more state resources available to communities impacted by the winter weather.
Reporting damage online is entirely voluntary and should not be done in place of submitting reports to insurance agencies, the release said. Texans are not guaranteed disaster relief assistance when reporting to the state.
To fill out the damage survey, affected Texans can visit damage.tdem.texas.gov and select “Ice Storm/Winter Weather January 29 - Ongoing” under “active incidents.” There is no deadline to report damage.
People reporting damage must submit photos of the damage and information about the location of the damage, scope of losses, livability of the building and more through multiple-choice questions. Tutorial videos explaining how to fill out the survey in English and Spanish can also be found online.
“As ice begins to thaw in many communities, the winter weather impacts to homes and businesses are revealing themselves,” said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, in the release. “I urge any Texan who sustained property damage to report it in order to aid officials in identifying community needs. I thank the dedicated first responders and energy sector personnel working around the clock to restore power and keep people safe during this winter weather event.”
Texans can find more winter storm resources on the TDEM website, including safety tips, tree care information and a place for local officials to report damages to public infrastructure.
