Disaster declaration extended for Hopkins County

Disaster declaration extended for Hopkins County Image News Staff Tue, 06/11/2024 - 21:25 Subhead Weather | Recovery Body

Uninsured, underinsured residents urged to report damages to emergency officials

As anticipated, Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning affirmed and extended the local state of disaster for Hopkins County following a storm last Wednesday morning, allowing uninsured and under insured county residents to file forms for damages with the state emergency officials, which could result in funding to indidvudals and the county to help with cleanup and recovery efforts.

The disaster declaration was first enacted by County Judge Robert Newsom who determined Thursday morning 'that extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of people and to protect or rehabilitate property' as a result of 'strong straightline winds, micro-downburst, reoccurring precipitation, and flooding.' The declaration of the local state of disaster, pursuant to §418.018(d) of the Government Code, activated the Hopkins County Emergency Management Plan. Newsom also submitted a letter asking Governor Greg Abbott, via his emergency management division, to 'declare a state of emergency for Hopkins, Texas, and issue appropriate directives to deal with the emergency,' so that the county can apply for FEMA funding to help with recovery efforts.

In order for the disaster declaration to remain in place, it must be extended by the Commissioners Court within 7 days.

This also starts the process for residents and county officials to apply for federal funding to help with damages and losses due to the weather. This essentially allows uninsured and underinsured residents of Hopkins County, including Sulphur Springs, to file claims with iSTAT, documenting their damages.

If enough county residents file claims, reaching a damage threshold for the county, emergency officials would then set up an office in Sulphur Springs, to work with local residents to help them apply for federal funding. If damages were sustained in a municipality or incorporated area within Hopkins County ( Sulphur Springs, Como, Cumby or Tira) the governing body for that area coudl declare a state of disaster.

“The general public will have to take some self responsibility,” said Beth Wisenbaker. who coordinators federal programs for the Hopkins County.

Individuals who are uninsured and under insured can file forms with iSTAT documenting the individual damages to their property by going online to https://pstat.tdem.texas. gov/#iSTATForms or using a provided QR code to download an app onto which photos may be uploaded. This puts a locator on Hopkins County at their address on a map that goes to state and federal emer- gency officials. Texas Department of Emergency Management will add up damages from individuals reported for Hopkins County through iSTAT.

Those who have already made repairs will need to keep documents with all receipts, photos from the scene and information of repairs/ made. Those who haven’t made repairs will need to give an estimate for damages/.

Hopkins County must log $169,000 before the county is eligible for funding, Wisenbaker noted.

In the event a resident is disabled or doesn’t have capabilities of taking and uploading photos of damages and submitting through the app, contact Hopkins County Judge’s Office at 903-438-4006 to have someone help with this process.

Precinct road crews were a huge help with this process the last time the county applied for assistance. In many times, the crew leader had taken on this responsibility, using either their cell phones or devices provided by TDEM. Hopkins County Fire Department did help in event of someone with disabilities. If there’s an area in the county this go-round with multiple properties with damages, a volunteer fire department might be utilized to help those individuals.

Wisenbaker said it is her understanding based on industry reports that property insurance had gone up significantly, causing some people to cut back on the amount of insurance carried on homes that are paid for. In some cases, owners just are not able to afford insurance at this time. Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley noted that in the past two house fires, neither homeowner had insurance because it was just too high right now.

The date for damages from storm may date back as far as May 8, when the Texas began experiencing deluges of rain, hail and wind, according to Wisnebaker.