UPDATED: Governor Abbott Requests SBA Disaster Declaration For South Texas Severe Storm Weather

TEXAS, May 29 - May 29, 2025 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

NOTE: Updated request letter linked below.

Governor Greg Abbott announced that he requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for South Texas communities impacted by severe storms earlier this month. If approved, the SBA declaration will make federal assistance available through disaster loans for Jim Wells County and its contiguous counties.
 
"Today, I requested a disaster declaration for Texans in Jim Wells County whose homes or businesses were damaged by recent severe storms," said Governor Abbott. "Approval of this declaration will provide access to low-interest loans to help Texans rebuild their communities. As Jim Wells County and surrounding areas begin to recover, I urge Texans to report any damage to their homes or businesses through the iSTAT damage surveys."
 
If the request from Texas is approved, the SBA would provide low-interest loans through disaster programs to qualifying Texans whose homes and businesses sustained damage during the severe weather incident, including but not limited to tornadoes, thunderstorms, and straight-line winds.
 
Governor Abbott's request follows an analysis of the damage sustained in impacted communities conducted by local, state, and federal officials. The analysis verifies that Jim Wells County meets the federally required thresholds for SBA assistance. Officials also reviewed disaster damage details provided by Texans through the self-reporting Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) surveys.
 
Governor Abbott continues to take action to provide all available resources to help support local communities impacted by severe storms including:
•    Requesting local, state, and federal partners joint preliminary damage assessment of homes and businesses in South Texas communities.
•    Activating state emergency response resources ahead of severe weather threat.