If you were impacted by Winter Storm Uri, federal assistance is available through FEMA to eligible people and families. The list below includes locally sponsored outreach events to help people apply for assistance. At these events, FEMA staff, including a disability integration advisor, will be available to help people with disabilities complete the application process.
If you are unable to attend one of these events, you can visit the FEMA website for Texas Severe Winter Storms to apply for assistance online and find more information.
TCDD Response
We hope that you, your families, and your neighbors and colleagues are safe. Due to severe winter weather and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, our state endured an exceptionally challenging week. Though the worst of the storm has passed, the aftermath and road to recovery can be just as challenging. Our thoughts are with you as we recover together.
Approximately 3.4 million Texas residents (11.7%) have a disability, according to 2019 data from the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Last week, individuals with disabilities were forced to live without needed support, to risk dangerous travel conditions to reach hospital emergency rooms to access power for essential medical equipment, and to overcome many other obstacles. Whether it is hurricanes or snowstorms, it remains evident that Texas needs improvement in emergency preparedness and response for people with disabilities.
State leaders will spend the next weeks and months investigating the systems that worked last week, those that failed, and where gaps exist. The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) urges policymakers and all who work in service of the public to consider the disproportionate impact of emergencies such as Winter Storm Uri on Texans with disabilities and to take action to develop more inclusive and equitable emergency response policies and protocols. Whether it is COVID-19 vaccine distribution, or prioritized aid for people with disabilities who depend on electricity to power their health equipment, or mobility services that would transport Texans with disabilities to warming centers, leaders must prioritize the health and safety of individuals most in need.
TCDD, with its partners in the disability community, works to ensure that Texans with disabilities are fully included in their communities and exercise control over their own lives. It is our priority to ensure that Texans with disabilities have equal access to, and are proactively included in, using all community resources designed to maintain and improve individual and public health and safety, including during public health emergencies. Texans with disabilities deserve emergency planning that is responsive to their needs.
Even in these difficult times, we are reaffirmed in our belief that Texans are strong. We have been inspired by your acts of kindness as we’ve witnessed neighbors helping neighbors by offering rides to essential workers, sharing food and water, and even opening up homes to share warmth and shelter during a time of physical distancing.
Below, please find some ways you can take action to help Texans with disabilities, as well as some health and safety resources. Thank you for creating positive change in your communities.
The Governor’s Office has put together a list of winter weather resources, which continues to be updated. The list includes information about FEMA disaster assistance, state warming centers, insurance assistance, and how you can get involved to help Texans in need.
Explore Disability Rights Texas’ Winter Storm Recovery Resource page.
The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies operates a disaster hotline, which you can contact any time at 1-800-626-4959.
Visit the TDEM website and select your region and county to find local information on where to find potable water, warming centers, and shelters.
Search Texas A&M University’s Directory of Community Resources for People with Disabilities to find resources and organizations by category and location, developed as part of Project REDD (Research and Education on Disability and Disaster).
On March 24, 2021, the FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) and our partners held a stakeholder event to learn about National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and the importance of including people with developmental disabilities in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. The agenda, speaker presentations, and related resources on the topic are now available.
Access ASL videos that provide information on the FEMA registration process:
TCDD welcomes innovative ideas and suggestions of activities to implement the Goals and Objectives in the TCDD State Plan.
Email tcdd@tcdd.texas.gov or complete the online feedback form to submit your ideas.
6201 E. Oltorf St., Suite 600
Austin, TX 78741-7509
Phone: 512-437-5432
Toll Free: 1-800-262-0334
Email: tcdd@tcdd.texas.gov
6201 E. Oltorf St., Suite 600
Austin, TX 78741-7509
Phone: 512-437-5432
Toll Free: 1-800-262-0334
Email: tcdd@tcdd.texas.gov
The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We continually work to apply best practices and adhere to Web Content Accessibility (WCAG) 2.1 standards. Read More about TCDD’s accessibility statement.