In a Dec. 1 news release, Gov. Greg Abbott said he directed the Texas Department of Emergency Management to request the U.S. Small Business Administration conduct preliminary damage assessments following two tornadoes and severe storms that moved through the northwestern portion of Harris County.

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A series of severe storms and two confirmed tornadoes caused residential and small-business damage across the Cypress-Fairbanks, Spring and Klein communities Nov. 24. Following the storms, local and state officials have started damage assessments in the affected areas, and the state is now requesting surveyors from the SBA to do the same.

"Today, I requested the U.S. Small Business Administration join state and local officials to begin preliminary damage assessments so we can

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