2022 FLOOD

On Aug. 24, Mayor Mattie Parker signed a local disaster declaration. On Aug. 25, the City Council met in a special called session and voted to extend that order through Sept. 27.

Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley signed a declaration of local disaster following torrential rainfall and flooding on Aug. 22.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a disaster declaration on Aug. 22 for 23 Texas counties, including Texas. https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/DISASTER_storm_flooding_west_and_north_Texas_IMAGE_08-23-2022.pdf

Declaring a local disaster could open the path for possible financial assistance from state and federal sources once county and state damage thresholds are met. The declaration will allow the City of Fort Worth to seek reimbursement for applicable flood-related expenses if certain thresholds are met. Additional standards must be met before Small Business Administration low-interest loans would be available.

Residents who have sustained property damage should notify state emergency management officials. https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/

The Texas Division of Emergency Management has created a tool for reporting property damage.

Visit the agency’s website https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/ or scan the QR code here with a smart phone. Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) damage surveys are available in English and Spanish.

The survey will help state and local emergency management officials identify and gain an understanding of damages from the recent storms.
Reporting damages to the Emergency Management Division is voluntary, is not a substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency, and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance.

• Floodplain Management Plan Part 1(PDF, 9MB)

United Way of Tarrant County is seeking donations to its Emergency Relief Fund to provide immediate assistance to those in Tarrant County impacted by recent flooding. Donations can be made online (designate United Way’s Emergency Fund) or by sending a check to the United Way office at 1500 N. Main, Suite 200, Fort Worth, TX 76164.

The Emergency Relief Fund will provide assistance for food, utility bills, rent, hotels and housing solutions, among other emergency needs. The United Way of Tarrant County is coordinating its efforts with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

The Small Business Administration’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Dallas and Balch Springs will close on Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, respectively.

SBA opened the centers to provide assistance to Texas businesses and residents who were affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred Aug. 22-25. Until the centers close, SBA customer service representatives will continue to be available to meet with businesses and residents to answer their questions.

So far, SBA has approved more than $2 million in federal disaster loans for Texas businesses and residents. SBA disaster assistance is available in Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall and Tarrant counties in Texas.

Until the centers close, businesses and residents can meet with SBA representatives on the days and times listed below. No appointment is necessary.

• Samuell-Grand Recreation Center, Game Room 112, 6200 E. Grand Ave., Dallas. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Closes at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20.
• Balch Springs Recreation Department Meeting Room, 4372 Shepherd Lane, Balch Springs. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Closes at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27.

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Download applications. https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email. disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

The deadline to apply for property damage is Nov. 14. The deadline to apply for economic injury is June 14.

City of Fort Worth staff and partner crews have been mobilized to conduct litter cleanups. Current cleanup efforts are focusing on Lake Arlington and Lake Worth. Although, at this time, there is no call for volunteers for these areas, volunteers are still encouraged to lead a cleanup along the Trinity River.

A special thank you to Keep Fort Worth Beautiful, Tarrant Regional Water District, UpSpire and Streams & Valleys, Inc., and the hundreds of volunteers who assisted in removing massive amounts of litter deposited from last week’s rain event! In total, over 28,500 pounds of litter and debris were collected from the Trinity River over the course of four days, Aug. 25-28, 2022. These efforts made a huge difference for our favorite river, its banks and surrounding trails.

If you would like to lead a special cleanup, you can request free gloves and bags from Keep Fort Worth Beautiful.

After litter and debris is collected, there will be multiple options for disposal, including the City’s four Drop-off Stations. The MyFW app can also be used through September 12, to request bag pickup after completing a special cleanup.

Upcoming volunteer cleanups are underway for Lake Arlington and Lake Worth. Sign up for the Keep Fort Worth Beautiful Newsletter or follow the KFWB Facebook page for the latest updates on these upcoming events.

If you have questions or would like to volunteer, contact Keep Fort Worth Beautiful KFWB@fortworthtexas.gov at 817-392-2046.

With higher-than-normal amounts of debris to be collected, the City reminds residents to follow a few simple guidelines for efficient and effective collections.

Drop-off stations

The City has four drop-off stations available for residents to dispose of tree limbs, brush, litter and related items. Drop-off stations are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; closed Sundays. A current driver’s license or Fort Worth water bill is needed for proof of residency.

These locations are excellent resources for residents who need to dispose of excess materials.

Downed tree limbs and brush

The City of Fort Worth recycles all tree, brush and yard trimmings as compost, so mixing bulk waste and brush/yard trimmings is against the rules. Follow these tips when setting out debris.

• Cut and stack tree limbs in one organized row or pile at the curb. The pile cannot be larger than 10 cubic yards – roughly the size of a Volkswagen Beetle.
• For weekly collections, tree limbs should be cut shorter than 8 feet in length and less than 4 inches in diameter and less than 10 cubic yards.
• Tree limbs larger than 4 inches in diameter or 8 feet in length should be stacked separately from small limbs/brush and will be collected on your assigned bulk week.
• If your pile of material is larger than the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, consider using a City drop-off station to dispose of debris.
• All materials should be placed at the curb before 7 a.m. Monday of your assigned bulk week and left until the material has been collected, in case crews are delayed.

Service updates

After storm events, Code Compliance staff members assist city departments in clearing rights-of-way and assessing the extent of storm damage and any resulting materials. If the volume of storm debris is too much for regular collection, schedule changes may be announced.

To receive information as soon as possible, download the City of Fort Worth Garbage and Recycling app. If there are collection delays, collection information will be forwarded to residents as quickly as possible.

Any service delays will be posted on the City of Fort Worth website.

Other collection needs

For additional questions or help resolving disposal issues, contact the City’s Call Center at 817-392-1234.

The heavy rainfall and flooding underscores the need for every resident to receive reliable weather warnings.

Residents can register https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF3B0A05197C for a free service called Fort Worth Texas Alerts. In the event of community emergencies, an emergency alert will be sent by text or email. Or residents can sign up for optional weather warning alerts via text, email or voice calls.

The city’s Fire Department Office of Emergency Management manages the emergency alert system designed to be one of the tools used to alert residents of hazardous conditions.