East Texas is reeling from severe weather, and Governor Greg Abbott has stepped in with an official disaster declaration for seven counties besieged by storms and significant flooding. Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, Panola, Shelby, and Tyler counties are all on the receiving end of state aid as of yesterday. Abbott has promised that the state is "working around-the-clock with local officials" to mitigate the storm's aftermath and support communities in the arduous task of rebuilding and recovery.

Abbott's declaration came with a call to action for Texans to report storm damages via the iSTAT damage survey — a crucial step for authorities to size up the havoc and gauge if additional federal help is needed. This information could be a key to unlocking further assistance and ensuring the state's swift rebound from nature's fury. "I thank the Texas Division of Emergency Management and first responders who are working tirelessly to keep their fellow Texans recover from these storms," Abbott said, as reported by the Office of the Texas Governor.

The scale of the damage is still under assessment, with state and local authorities combing through the chaos left in the wake of the flooding. As water levels drop, ongoing evaluations will persist, informing decisions about which forms of federal disaster relief could be made available to those hit hardest. More counties might find themselves added to the list if conditions warrant it.

To streamline damage assessments, officials are imploring residents to utilize the iSTAT tool to report the impacts on their homes and businesses. Available in both English and Spanish, the survey includes tutorial videos designed to simplify the submission process, according to the Office of the Texas Governor. The data gathered from iSTAT is crucial; it outlines the immediate needs for resources and helps pinpoint who qualifies for disaster aid. Texans have their chance to influence the recovery process by providing firsthand accounts of the damages they’ve experienced.

In response to the flooding, The Office of the Texas Governor reports that state agencies are actively backing up local officials in handling the situation—as commanded by the Governor. The Texas Division of Emergency Management, in particular, is entrenched within the affected communities, working hand-in-glove with local forces to aid and expedite recovery efforts.