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Governor Greg Abbott has activated state emergency response resources in preparation for severe weather threats across Texas. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has been directed to mobilize resources to ensure the safety of Texans during this potential weather event.
In a press release, Governor Abbott stated, "Texas stands ready to provide assistance to our fellow Texans as anticipated winter weather and severe storms impact communities across the state this weekend." He urged Texans to remain weather-aware and follow the guidance of local officials and first responders to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones.
The National Weather Service has forecasted potentially disruptive snowfall in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains regions. Central and East Texas are also at risk for severe storms, including heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding, river flooding, large hail, and damaging winds throughout the weekend.
To support the response operations, Governor Abbott has activated several state emergency response resources. These include:
- Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1): Swiftwater boat squads
- Texas Department of Transportation: Personnel and equipment for road treatment, monitoring, traffic control, and road closures
- Texas National Guard: Personnel and winter weather packages
Additionally, TDEM has placed other resources on standby to assist with winter storm response operations as needed. These include Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1 and Texas Task Force 2) with Urban Search and Rescue Teams, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with Game Wardens and boat squads, Texas A&M Forest Service with Incident Management Teams and saw crews, Texas Department of State Health Services (Emergency Medical Task Force) with severe weather packages, Texas Department of Public Safety with Tactical Marine Unit and helicopters with hoist capabilities, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality with air/water/wastewater monitoring, Public Utility Commission of Texas with power outage monitoring and coordination with utility providers, and Railroad Commission of Texas with monitoring of the state's natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry.
Texans are urged to take safety precautions and prepare for severe weather impacts by heeding warnings from local officials, creating an emergency plan, and monitoring local weather forecasts. Additional storm preparedness information can be found at TexasReady.gov. Road conditions can be checked at DriveTexas.org, and flood tracking information is available at TexasFlood.org.
In the event of localized power outages, Texans can find contact information for their local utility providers at puc.texas.gov/storm. Warming centers operated by local officials can be found at tdem.texas.gov/warm.
Governor Abbott's activation of state emergency response resources underscores the commitment to prioritize the safety and well-being of Texans during severe weather events. By taking necessary precautions and following the guidance of local authorities, Texans can mitigate the potential risks associated with these weather threats.