The Wet, Windy and Wintry Weather of 2015-2016

January to April 2015 were the wettest four months in Texas history, and the rain continued through May, ushering in severe storms, tornados, straight-line winds and flooding.

Initially, three Texas counties were hit by the storms that led to President Obama’s Major Disaster Declaration, DR-4223,on May 29, 2015. By the incident period’s end, on June 23, 2015, 112 counties had received enough damage to qualify for federal disaster assistance. And the declarations kept coming.

Severe Storms Continue

DR-4245: After an unusually hot summer in 2015, where the state went from drought-free on June 16 — the first time in five years — to severe short-term drought conditions, Texas then once again witnessed severe storms and flooding. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) DR-4245 was declared on Nov. 25 for storms from Oct. 22-31. Twenty-two counties qualified for assistance. For several counties, this was their second time making the disaster declaration list that year. With the inclusion of the Texas Hidden Pines Fire (FM-5116) Fire Management Assistance Declaration, declared on October 14, Bastrop County had three federal disaster declarations for 2015.

DR-4255: In early 2016, severe winter storms were added to the four horsemen of severe storms, tornados, straight-line winds and flooding, resulting in FEMA DR-4255. These systems struck between Dec. 26, 2015 and Jan. 21, 2016. With the addition of 26 counties by Mar. 19, 2016, 51 total counties qualified for assistance. Most of the communities impacted are between IH-20 and IH-40, in the lower Panhandle and North Texas.

DR-4266: As the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) weather pattern, better known as El Niño persists, so do the severe weather events for Texas. On Mar. 7 of this year, the latest severe storm system struck. DR-4266 was declared on Mar. 19 for nine counties.

Major Disaster Declaration Process

A disaster happens, locals respond.

Local officials and first responders live up to their name. They’re the first on the scene when disaster strikes. If these officials see that their communities need assistance that exceeds the community’s capability, they contact their Texas Department of Emergency Management Regional and District Coordinator (TDEM DC) for state help.

TDEM DCs are state field response personnel that are stationed throughout the state. They have a dual role as they carry out emergency preparedness activities and also coordinate emergency response operations. In their response role, they deploy to incident sites to assess damage, identify urgent needs, and advise local officials regarding state assistance. They also coordinate deployment of state emergency resources to assist local emergency responders. (See a map of district coordinators.)

The state responds.

When the state sees that the response is beyond its resources, the Governor’s Office reaches out to the federal government for assistance. Typically, before asking for a major disaster declaration, the state asks for a preliminary damage assessment. This is done by teams composed of state and federal officials. They arrive in the disaster damaged area, and local officials show them the most severely damaged areas that they can access.

Among the items considered are:

• The amount of damage;
• How widespread the damages are, and the number of insured and uninsured properties involved;
• Special needs populations; and
• Other disasters the state may be working.

Governors use this information to decide whether to request a disaster declaration. Once a governor decides to request a declaration, it is processed as quickly as possible.

If the President decides there’s a need, he signs a major disaster declaration for the designated counties, either for individual assistance, public assistance or both.

Individual assistance means individuals and business owners may be eligible for rental assistance, grants for repairs or low interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for damages to uninsured or underinsured property.

Public assistance means government entities and certain private non-profit agencies may be eligible to be reimbursed for the cost of repairs to uninsured or underinsured facilities, as well as some costs for labor and materials.

Presidential Declaration, Next Steps

Notes for Affected Constituents

Survivors can apply online or by phone at (800) 621-3362 or (TTY) (800) 462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call (800) 621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. After disaster survivors have registered for federal disaster assistance, FEMA will ask them to provide information on disaster damage, proof of identity and residence, insurance and other documentation, to determine eligibility. Disaster survivors registered with FEMA for disaster assistance may be contacted by a FEMA contract inspector to make an appointment to view disaster damage. It is important to provide good contact information at the time of registration.

The Preliminary Damage Assessment teams often take photographs of damaged areas. After a Major Disaster declaration, photographs of damages are accepted as documentation, in addition to receipts.
Homeowners may use FEMA housing assistance grants to repair or replace:

• Key systems such as plumbing, electrical and heating;
• Structural components such as roofs, outside walls and foundations;
• Windows, doors, floors, walls, ceiling, cabinetry;
• Septic and well systems; and
• Mobile home resetting and anchoring, and reconnecting utilities.

Renters and homeowners may qualify for grants for other disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs, such as clothing, child care, room furnishings and appliances, medical and dental costs, vehicles and moving and storage expenses.

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

• Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters.  Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
• Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
• Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
• Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

The spring outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released Mar.17, 2016 predicts continued moderate flood risk for Texas. According to the forecast, “Parts of Louisiana, Arkansas and eastern Texas have an elevated risk of moderate flooding, along with communities along the Mississippi and Missouri River basins and the southeastern United States, from Alabama to North Carolina. Surrounding areas are at risk of minor flooding this spring.”

Historically, as we move from a strong El Niño system into a “neutral” pattern, Texas has witnessed a substantial increase in severe weather events during the months of April through June. With that in mind, more counties are expected to join the FEMA disaster declaration list in 2016.