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General Disaster Relief

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CURRENT DISASTER DECLARATION FOR TEXAS

FEDERAL INFORMATION:

Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA)
DR-4879-TX
Texas Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding
Incident Period: Jul 2, 2025 and continuing.

Here is a document from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) detailing their disaster recovery grants for salvaging humanities collections such as rare books, documents, photographs, artwork, sculptures, historical objects, audiovisual media, and digital collections (August 5, 2025).

Here is a document from FEMA detailing how those impacted by the floods can request an extension with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).  Time sensitive information (July 16, 2025).

Here is a link to a helpful document on federal information compiled by the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness & Emergency Response (NCAPER).

STATE INFORMATION:

Governor Abbott has issued Disaster Declarations that include the following impacted counties: Bandera, Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reeves, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson.

State resources and services are listed on the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) webpage here: https://tdem.texas.gov/disasters/july-flooding-25-0026

State officials continue to review disaster damage information self-reported by Texans through TDEM’s Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) damage survey. When it is safe to do so, impacted Texans are encouraged to submit information about damage to homes or businesses by visiting damage.tdem.texas.gov. These details are vital to help officials identify impacted areas and connect Texans with resources.

Texans are encouraged to follow instructions from local officials and can find flood resources online in the Texas Disaster Portal at disaster.texas.gov.

In the event you or your organization are significantly impacted by a disaster, please let TCA know. Email hello@arts.texas.gov.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION:

To donate, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, a 501(c)(3) public charity, has established the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. The Community Foundation will direct funds to vetted organizations providing rescue, relief, and recovery efforts as well as flood assistance. The Fund will support the communities of Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort. All donations are tax-deductible.

Donations can be made online at https://tinyurl.com/KerrFloodRelief

Checks can be mailed to:
The Community Foundation
241 Earl Garrett St.
Kerrville TX 78028

To volunteer, please contact the Salvation Army Kroc Center at (830) 315-5762.

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Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) always seeks to connect the field to the resources. Please reach out to TCA staff if you or your organization sustained major impact from a natural disaster, accident, or emergency.

STATE ASSISTANCE

In addition to being a conduit for state and federal resources, TCA partners with other agencies to provide disaster relief grants to the arts and cultural industry during times of disaster. These grants are often dependent upon outside funding and are available on a disaster-by-disaster basis.

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

Arts organizations, cultural institutions, and artists and performing groups impacted by a disaster are encouraged to fill out one of the following Rapid Damage Assessment Forms (estimated time 8-15 minutes to complete). Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF) will use this information to expedite appropriate help.

·        Cultural Institutions 
·        Arts Organizations 
·        Individual Artists and Performing Groups 

An Arts Field Guide to Federal Disaster Relief was put together by the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER) to help the arts industry navigate federal support systems.

  • The Field Guide is designed to help arts organizations, businesses, artists, and cultural workers understand what is available and decide if pursuing federal aid makes sense for them.
  • It gives a snapshot of federal disaster assistance programs that can go into effect after a presidentially declared disaster.
  • The guide can also be found on the NCAPER website here.
  • La traducción en español de Una Guía en el Campo de las Artes está disponible en el sitio web de NCAPER. Traducida por Sandra Marulanda.  

FEMA General Guidelines for Applying for Aid:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  • Individual Assistance (i.e., artists):        Generally 30 days after the presidential disaster declaration 
  • Public Assistance (i.e., organizations): Generally 60 days after the presidential disaster declaration

HELPFUL TIPS & RESOURCES