HENDERSON COUNTY–Henderson County Commissioners’ Court voted in a May 31 special session to extend by 30 days the local disaster declaration issued originally by County Judge Wade McKinney following severe weather that ripped through the southeastern part of the county May 23-24.
That May 23-24 event included an EF-1 tornado near Coffee City, with heavy rain continuing to fall around the county in the aftermath, causing flash flooding, along with high winds. McKinney issued a statement on the county’s Facebook page May 29. “Powerful storms ripped through Henderson County in the past week leaving a trail of damage in every precinct,” McKinney wrote. “In the face of this adversity, our community came together with resilience and determination.”
In addition to first responders, the county’s emergency management office, county precinct workers, fire departments, local schools and electric delivery companies, McKinney also thanked volunteers “who helped clear streets and supported residents affected by the storms, your generosity and hard work did not go unnoticed. While we can’t name everyone individually, please know that your contributions were important and greatly appreciated,” the county judge remarked online.
McKinney concluded the May 29 statement: “Thank you for embodying the spirit of Henderson County. Together, we will continue to rebuild and support one another.”
McKinney told commissioners May 31 that he issued the original local disaster declaration May 24 about 10 o’clock at night, which lasted seven days. The entire court had to take action to continue the declaration before the original seven days elapsed, the county judge explained.
County Fire Marshal Shane Renberg, who is the county’s Emergency Management coordinator, stated the judge could lift the full court’s order at any time he wished, while also informing the court that Henderson County is under a disaster declaration issued by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
“Basically, this just allows us to go about the process of helping everybody in the county,” Renberg said. Renberg referenced the iSTAT process, which are Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool damage surveys available online through the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). There have been 50-60 iSTAT forms filled out in Precinct 4 alone (the area including Coffee City) as of May 31, according to Renberg.
The survey aids emergency management officials in gaining an understanding of damages that have occurred and helps officials determine if the state meets federal requirements for various forms of disaster assistance, as well as to identify any immediate resource needs, TDEM says online.
Renberg remarked, “This is going to get the public some assistance, being in this declaration is part of that.”
In addition, the county has set up a site for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to come to Henderson County to meet with residents, Renberg added, for what he said he believes could be forthcoming federal funding.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam said May 31 that there are “hundreds” of trees downed in Henderson County. “It’s unbelievable the amount of time we spent on trees that we haven’t spent on road work,” McHam stated.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Wendy Spivey also talked about damage that occurred May 26 in Log Cabin (for which Mayor Jennifer Williams issued a city local disaster declaration that day), as well as Caney City, Star Harbor and the Key Ranch Estates subdivision north of Trinidad “that we’re still working on,” she said.
“It’s going to take more than 30 (days) to clean up with what all we got,” said McHam, with which Spivey agreed.