Disaster Aid Available to 126 Counties Affected by Winter Storm
Office of Governor Abbott • February 25, 2021
Governor Greg Abbott announced that the White House has issued a Federal Emergency Declaration for Texas in response to the severe winter storm that began on Feb. 11.
This Federal Emergency Declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide emergency protective measures for mass care and sheltering and Direct Federal Assistance for Texas counties. The Governor originally requested Individual Assistance for all 254 Texas counties on February 18th. On February 20th, the White House partially approved Texas' request for a Major Disaster Declaration. The partial approval included Individual Assistance in 77 counties and for Public Assistance (Emergency Protective Measures Only) in all 254 counties.
- February 22 - 31 counties approved
- February 25 - 18 counties approved
Counties originally approved:
Angelina, Aransas, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Brazoria, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Collin, Comal, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, DeWitt, Ellis, Falls, Fort Bend, Galveston, Gillespie, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hood, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Kaufman, Kendall, Lavaca, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Maverick, McLennan, Montague, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Nueces, Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Polk, Rockwall, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Scurry, Shelby, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Travis, Tyler, Upshur, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Wharton, Wichita, Williamson, Wilson, and Wise Counties.
31 additional counties approved:
Anderson, Austin, Bosque, Bowie, Burnet, Cherokee, Colorado, Erath, Fannin, Freestone, Gonzales, Grayson, Gregg, Harrison, Hill, Houston, Hunt, Jackson, Jim Wells, Jones, Limestone, Lubbock, Medina, Milam, Navarro, Rusk, Taylor, Tom Green, Val Verde, Washington, Wood.
18 additional counties approved:
Atascosa, Bandera, Brooks, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Goliad, Howard, Jim Hogg, Karnes, Kleberg, Leon, Llano, Newton, Robertson, Trinity, Webb, and Willacy.
As of Thursday, March 4, three East Texas Counties have not been approved for disaster assistance. The counties are Camp, Marion, and Rains Counties. On Tuesday, March 2, Gov. Abbott requested that an additional 32 counties be added to the Disaster Declaration, including the three remaining East Texas Counties that ETCOG covers.
Additional counties will continue to be re-requested as the State of Texas continues to receive information reported from individuals who have suffered damage from the winter storm. Texans are urged to fill out the Texas Division of Emergency Management's Texas Individual Assistance Reporting Tool (TIART)
to help the state identify damages across Texas and help emergency management officials gain an understanding of damages that occurred during the recent winter weather. FEMA has asked the state of Texas for additional information regarding the amount of damage in the counties that have yet to be declared, and TDEM will continue to present that information until all Texas counties that qualify for federal assistance receive the assistance they need.
ETCOG is hosting NIMS ICS 300 and ICS 400 training in August at our Kilgore office. These courses are now required under Texas House Bill 33. Please register as soon as possible. The class must have at least 26 participants, or it may be canceled. Please also forward this opportunity to anyone who may need or be interested in attending. Training Details Course: MGT904 / ICS-300 Dates: August 24–26, 2026 Start Time: August 24 at 8:00 a.m. CST Location: ETCOG 3800 Stone Road Kilgore, Texas 75662 Registration Link: https://my.teex.org/TeexPortal/Default.aspx?MO=mCourseCatalog&D=FP&C=MGT904&S=941 Course: MGT905 / ICS-400 Dates: August 26–27, 2026 Start Time: August 26 at 1:00 p.m. CST Location: ETCOG 3800 Stone Road Kilgore, Texas 75662 Registration Link: https://my.teex.org/TeexPortal/Default.aspx?MO=mCourseCatalog&D=FP&C=MGT905&S=732 Cost All online classes, including the ICS 300/400 classes hosted at ETCOG, are free. Prerequisites Please read this section carefully before registering. The following four prerequisite courses are required: ICS 100 ICS 200 ICS 700 ICS 800 FEMA online training link for prerequisites: Emergency Management Institute - National Incident Management System (NIMS) https://training.fema.gov/nims/ Please bring copies of your prerequisite certificates with you to class, if possible. A screenshot of your certificates is also acceptable. What to Bring Please bring the following items to training: Copies or screenshots of your ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 700, and ICS 800 certificates A tablet or laptop The participant manual downloaded to your device The participant manual will be available after you complete registration. Registration Assistance If you have trouble registering, please send a screenshot of the issue so we can help troubleshoot. Thank you, and please register as soon as possible to help ensure the class meets the minimum attendance requirement.
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, observed April 12–18, 2026 , honors the dedication, service, and sacrifice of the public safety telecommunicators who answer the call when emergencies happen. Held each year during the second week of April, the observance recognizes the professionals who serve as the critical first point of contact in emergency situations. At ETCOG, we are proud to recognize the telecommunicators who serve communities across our region. Their work requires professionalism, compassion, quick thinking, and a steadfast commitment to public safety. In moments of crisis, they provide calm, skilled support and help connect people to the emergency services they need. In 2025 , telecommunicators in ETCOG’s service area answered more than 174,000 9-1-1 calls and more than 20,000 9-1-1 texts . Behind each of those numbers is a person in need of help and a trained telecommunicator ready to respond. ETCOG supports the region’s dispatch offices through training, equipment upgrades, and management of the regional 9-1-1 system. These efforts help ensure telecommunicators have the tools, technology, and resources needed to serve the public effectively and efficiently. During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, we extend our sincere appreciation to the men and women who help keep our communities safe every day. Their work is essential, and their service makes a meaningful difference throughout East Texas.
