Smith County Added to State Disaster List; Storm Victims Assisted

TYLER — Smith County has been added to the state’s list of counties declared disaster areas following recent storms. KETK reports Governor Greg Abbott made the announcement Friday morning. A local disaster declaration was issued by County Judge Joel Baker on Wednesday, and a letter was sent to Governor Abbott asking him to include Smith County in the state-wide disaster declaration. Meanwhile, the Smith County Office of Emergency Management has completed a door-to-door survey of the Jamestown Providence area of the county affected by last weekend’s tornado outbreak. All residents have been accounted for and cleanup operations are currently underway, according to a news release. No injuries were reported as a direct result of the storm in Smith County. Damage estimates are still pending but are expected to be well into the millions.

Although the state disaster declaration does not yet include Smith County, assistance may be available to qualifying county residents displaced by last weekend’s storms if the request is approved. “We are hopeful that our disaster assistance request will be approved by Governor Abbot so that Smith County citizens who have been most impacted by the storm can receive the assistance they need,” said Judge Baker. Those residents in the Jamestown area who need assistance in removing vegetation debris only from their property should register at the Providence Baptist Church on FM 857 south of FM 1253. The church is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday, May 16th.

Smith County Road and Bridge has established areas where natural debris from the storms, such as tree limbs, may be dropped off for disposal. A collections site for vegetation debris only is set up today on County Road 458, two-tenths of a mile east of FM 1253. The site will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Programs to assist with temporary housing are available and offered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs through its local non-profit partner, the Greater East Texas Community Action program. Anyone needing more information about available assistance or anyone with questions related to storm damages is asked to call the Smith County Office of Emergency Management at 903-590-2655.