FEMA-4485-DR-TX

Preliminary Damage Assessment Report

Texas – COVID-19

FEMA-4485-DR

Declared March 25, 2020

On March 23, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott requested a major disaster declaration due to the

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020, and

continuing. The Governor requested a declaration for the Crisis Counseling Program under the

Individual Assistance program statewide and emergency protective measures (Category B),

including direct Federal assistance under the Public Assistance program statewide. This event

was of the severity and magnitude that the need for supplemental Federal assistance was

determined to be necessary prior to the completion of joint Federal, State, and local government

Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs). Per 44 C.F.R.§ 206.33(d) and § 206.36(d), the

requirement for a joint PDA may be waived for those incidents of such unusual severity and

magnitude that formal field damage assessments are not required to establish the need for

supplemental Federal assistance under the Stafford Act.

On March 25, 2020, President Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Texas.

This declaration made Individual Assistance limited to the Crisis Counseling Program requested

by the Governor available in all areas in the State of Texas. This declaration also made

emergency protective measures (Category B) not authorized under other federal statutes,

including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program requested by the

Governor available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit

organizations on a cost-sharing basis for all areas in the State of Texas.

Summary of Damage Assessment Information Used in Determining Whether to

Declare a Major Disaster

Individual Assistance

 Total Number of Residences Impacted:

Destroyed - -

Major Damage - -

Minor Damage - -

Affected - -

 Percentage of insured residences:

 Percentage of poverty households:

 Percentage of ownership households:

 Population receiving other government

assistance such as SSI and SNAP: -

 Pre-Disaster Unemployment: -

 Age 65 and older: -

 Age 18 and under: -

 Disability: -

 IHP Cost to Capacity (ICC) Ratio: -

 Total Individual Assistance cost estimate: N/A

Public Assistance

 Primary Impact: -

 Total Public Assistance cost estimate: -

 Statewide per capita impact:

 Statewide per capita impact indicator:

$1.53

 Countywide per capita impact: -

 Countywide per capita impact indicator:

$3.84

The Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) process is a mechanism used to determine the impact and magnitude

of damage and resulting needs of individuals, businesses, public sector, and community as a whole. Information

collected is used by the State as a basis for the Governor’s request for a major disaster or emergency declaration, and

by the President in determining a response to the Governor’s request (44 CFR § 206.33).

When a Governor’s request for major disaster assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and

Emergency Assistance Act, as amended (Stafford Act) is under review, a number of primary factors are considered

to determine whether assistance is warranted. These factors are outlined in FEMA’s regulations (44 CFR § 206.48).

The President has ultimate discretion and decision making authority to declare major disasters and emergencies

under the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. § 5170 and § 5191).

Degree of damage to impacted residences:

o Destroyed – total loss of structure, structure is not economically feasible to repair, or complete failure to

major structural components (e.g., collapse of basement walls/foundation, walls or roof);

o Major Damage – substantial failure to structural elements of residence (e.g., walls, floors, foundation), or

damage that will take more than 30 days to repair;

o Minor Damage – home is damaged and uninhabitable, but may be made habitable in short period of time

with repairs; and

o Affected – some damage to the structure and contents, but still habitable.

By law, Federal disaster assistance cannot duplicate insurance coverage. 42 U.S.C. § 5155 and 44 C.F.R. §

206.48(b)(5).

Special populations, such as low-income, the elderly, or the unemployed may indicate a greater need for

assistance. 44 C.F.R. § 206.48(b)(3).

Ibid. 44 C.F.R. § 206.48(b)(3).

Based on State population in the 2010 Census.

Statewide Per Capita Impact Indicator for FY20, Federal Register, October 1, 2019.

Countywide Per Capita Impact Indicator for FY20, Federal Register, October 1, 2019.