East Texas Storm Damage Assessment Training Series

LONGVIEW, Texas – The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), in collaboration with the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG), Gregg County Emergency Management, and the City of Longview, is launching a series of storm damage assessment training courses across East Texas. The two-day sessions are designed to equip volunteers and local officials with the skills to rapidly evaluate damage following severe weather events, thereby accelerating the process of securing state and federal disaster assistance.

Participants will learn methodologies for efficient damage assessment and receive instruction on utilizing the TDEM damage assessment application, a critical tool for collecting and reporting disaster information. This initiative aims to enhance local preparedness and response capabilities, ensuring communities can recover more swiftly after natural disasters.

The training schedule includes five locations throughout the spring:
* Gregg County: Longview, March 10-11
* San Augustine County: San Augustine, March 17-18
* Henderson County: Athens, April 14-15
* Polk County: Livingston, April 28-29
* Wood County: Quitman, May 12-13

The training is open to a wide range of emergency response personnel, including county and city staff, first responders, public works crews, and community volunteers. Pre-registration is mandatory for all attendees. Interested individuals can register through the TDEM website at tdem.texas.gov or by contacting their respective local emergency management offices.