County officials told the Jim Wells County Commissioners Court they have completed a preliminary assessment with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and opened a staffed disaster assistance center to help residents affected by this week’s weather event.

The County Judge said representatives from the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the SBA conducted an initial damage assessment and that “the representative from SBA collected all the information that we needed.” He said the disaster assistance center on Wednesday drew more than 400 visitors, with at least 214 signing in to meet agency representatives, and urged residents who have not completed ISTAT (Individual Assistance) forms to visit the county courthouse to complete assessments.

Why it matters: county officials said the SBA preliminary assessment is a first step toward a potential federal declaration that would make individual and public assistance programs available. County staff described ongoing efforts to document damage and connect residents with state and federal resources.

County staff and elected officials described continuing cleanup operations. A county speaker reported crews are still collecting brush and will move on to other debris left by the storm after brush pickup finishes. Officials said they have been burning collected debris at the fairgrounds under special permission from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to reduce landfill costs.

County officials emphasized they are following regulatory requirements. The County Judge said the county has received two TCEQ reviews and is “following the rules to the T.” He asked residents to be patient with county crews, noting staff are working five days a week in hot conditions.

Officials named in the discussion included the County Judge; a named SBA representative (“Mr. Bob,” described in the meeting as the SBA representative who collected assessment information); and county staff members Salas and Longoria, who were listed as local points of contact for assessments. The court did not take a formal vote on disaster declarations or cleanup policy during the discussion.

What comes next: officials said they will continue intake of ISTAT forms at the courthouse and will notify residents of next steps if a federal or state disaster declaration is issued. The county will continue collection and permitted burning of storm debris until further notice.