MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – Montgomery County Judge, Mark Keough, posted on social media saying he signed a local disaster declaration after an EF-3 tornado hit east Montgomery County on Saturday.
He said the declaration will bring all the resources available to the county level to assist with response and recovery. As the county waits for the Governor’s decision on a state disaster declaration, Keough encourages residents to document their damage. This survey has been provided for residents to fill out to let the state know the severity of the damage in the county.
KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel spoke with several residents who filled out the survey and are hoping to get assistance from the state level. Joseph and Chelsey Korona said their home is unlivable after the tornado ripped off their roof and significantly damaged their home. The duct work was seen popping of the remnants of their roof. Insulation surrounds the home like snow, leaking water damaged their furniture and floor, Chelsey’s book collection was destroyed. Fortunately, the couple was not home at the time the storm hit.
“It just felt like it wasn’t I didn’t feel like I was looking at my house. I felt like it was somebody else’s house. I just wanted it to not be ours,” said Chelsey Korona.
The couple’s insurance, has them in temporary housing.
“The insurance company so far has said we cannot promise you or even guarantee you enough money to fix your house because the adjuster that came out here was not a structural engineer. He said we have to pay an engineer so we can evaluate the house further. He even told me I don’t know if you need electrical work or back work or anything. So, it’s going to take even more steps to finally get an answer to move forward,” said Joseph Korona.
The Korona’s are hoping the state will see the county’s need for assistance.
“I hope the state steps up because its not just this property. I really wish current officials in Austin come out and say, hey, we got a state of emergency, we need to do something here. It’s insane that we haven’t heard anything yet,” said Joseph Korona.
Raissa Da Costa lives in the Harrington Trails neighborhood, the same neighborhood as the Korona’s. Her roof also had holes, inside her house is covered in water and her fence is destroyed. She is also calling on the state to step up.
“I really would want to see at a state level this declaration get instituted because it wasn’t just one single street that was damaged. It was extensive. A lot of us aren’t going to be able to afford, even though, okay, we have insurance, but there’s still that deductible. There are things that we do need help with that we’re not going to be able to pick up and move on,” said Da Costa.
KPRC 2 reached out to reached out to Governor Greg Abbott’s office, asking if a state declaration would be made, we have not heard back at this time.
Should Abbott issue a declaration, Judge Keough said the county will wait for a federal declaration from the President before any government assistance from FEMA would be available.