Smith County Judge Neal Franklin issued a disaster declaration for Smith County on Thursday due to damage caused by the winter storm.
Icy conditions have caused numerous trees and limbs to fall, causing damage to homes, buildings and other county infrastructure, as well as power outages throughout the county. The City of Tyler also reported “significant property damage throughout the city,” and damage assessments are still underway.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management is asking residents who have suffered damages to report them at damage.tdem.texas.gov/
A tree is split in half on County Road 221 in Chapel Hill in Smith County on Thursday. (Santana Wood/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
Smith County non-emergency offices were closed Wednesday due to ice on the roads, but reopened Thursday for normal business hours.
Smith County Road and Bridge employees have been working around the clock since Tuesday to clear downed trees and limbs on county roads.
If you live outside of a city limits in Smith County and you need to report trees down in the roadway, call the non-emergency dispatch at 903-566-6600.
For cold weather tips and local resources, check out the 2023 Tyler/Smith County Cold Weather Response Plan at www.smith-county.com/government/departments/fire-marshal.