KERR COUNTY, Texas – Texans whose homes or property were damaged by recent storms are encouraged to report the damage through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT).
Emergency management officials use those reports to gauge the extent of the damage, helping determine whether state or federal disaster assistance may be needed.
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Based on those assessments, the governor can request that the president issue an emergency or major disaster declaration. If approved, the declaration can unlock federal disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for affected communities and residents.
Following the July 2026 floods in the Hill Country and South Texas, 33 counties were designated for FEMA assistance:
- Atascosa County
- Bandera County
- Bexar County
- Blanco County
- Brewster County
- Comal County
- Crockett County
- Dimmit County
- Duval County
- Edwards County
- Frio County
- Gillespie County
- Jim Wells County
- Kendall County
- Kerr County
- Kimble County
- Kinney County
- La Salle County
- Live Oak County
- Mason County
- Maverick County
- Medina County
- Menard County
- Pecos County
- Real County
- Schleicher County
- Sutton County
- Terrell County
- Uvalde County
- Val Verde County
- Webb County
- Wilson County
- Zavala County
FEMA was authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75%.
It does not currently include Individual Assistance (IA), though additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state.
Before applying for FEMA assistance, Texans with insurance should first file a claim with their insurance provider. FEMA does not provide assistance for losses already covered by insurance, and people cannot receive both insurance payouts and FEMA aid for the same damage.
If your home or property was damaged, contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the loss. Be prepared to explain what happened and the extent of the damage. Take photos and videos of the damage and keep copies for your records, as they may be needed when filing claims with your insurer or applying for FEMA assistance.
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