FEMA to assess tornado damage; Dallas Co. seeking federal funds

Barricades are being lifted today in the Garland neighborhoods that have been closed off since Saturday’s deadly tornados.

The city said a total of 783 homes were damaged by the storm. About 547 of them are safe to live in again, but 236 are considered hazardous and uninhabitable.

Police said that while people have been away from their homes, there have been no arrests and no reports of looting. But, officers do plan to continue saturating the area.

Some people have been allowed limited access, but Tuesday is the first day people are being allowed to move freely in the neighborhood near Interstate 30 and Bobtown Road.

There are two power companies that service the area and both expect to have power restored to most customers by the end of the day.

On Wednesday, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins is expected to tour the affected areas with FEMA workers.

The county hopes to get millions of dollars in federal aid, some of which would go directly to those affected.

Jenkins has already gotten a first-hand look at some of the damage.

“And what we saw was neighbors that had planted the American flag in totally demolished houses in an act of strong will and just showing that this storm can’t conquer the people of North Texas,” he said.

The assessments should be complete and the results should be available in just a few days.

President Barack Obama has also offered his support and condolences to the victims in Texas. He reportedly took time from his vacation to call Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday.