"We do need to thank the lord that it could have been worse. And the reason it wasn’t worse I would suggest is because of these local first responders and how they dealt with this. There is no one better than Texas at dealing with emergencies. That’s a fact. Our first responders in particular are the best in the country."

Officials in North Texas are still evaluating twister damage. Perry's office will submit that information to Washington to seek a federal disaster declaration.