Governor Greg Abbott has announced the approval of disaster declarations by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for Texas counties affected by recent wildfires in the Panhandle. The counties that will benefit from these declarations include Armstrong, Carson, Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, and Wheeler.
The disaster declarations are in response to the Smokehouse Creek and Windy Deuce wildfires, enabling affected Texans to access critical financial assistance as they work towards recovery and rebuilding efforts. Governor Abbott highlighted the importance of these declarations, stating, “These disaster declarations will help Texans in communities affected by the Smokehouse Creek and Windy Deuce wildfires receive critical financial assistance they need as they continue to recover and rebuild.”
The SBA will offer low-interest loans through its Home Disaster Loans, Business Physical Disaster Loans, and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs to qualifying homeowners, renters, and businesses impacted by the wildfires. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply online at sba.gov/disaster, where additional disaster assistance information and application forms are available. Assistance can also be sought via phone by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or by emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
To further assist in the application process and address any questions regarding the disaster loan programs, the SBA will establish two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in the region. One center will open at the Hemphill County Courthouse in Canadian, TX, with operating hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. Another center will be set up at The Dome Civic Center & Convention Center in Borger, TX, available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
In addition to the SBA disaster declarations, Governor Abbott has taken multiple steps to support the affected communities and mitigate the impact of the wildfires. These actions include requesting the disaster declaration from the SBA, granting waivers to assist with fueling capabilities amid the wildfire response, and coordinating with local, state, and federal officials for damage assessments. Furthermore, the Governor has briefed state response agencies, issued a disaster declaration for 60 Texas counties, and secured a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Smokehouse Creek Fire and Windy Deuce Fire.
With the anticipation of elevated-to-extremely-critical fire weather conditions across the Panhandle and other regions, state emergency resources are on standby to respond and support local efforts. Texans are urged to take preventive measures against wildfires and to stay informed through resources available at TexasReady.gov.
Smokehouse Creek Fire Image by Texas Parks and Wildlife
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