Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to prepare state emergency response resources in anticipation of severe weather expected to affect Texas this weekend.
"The State of Texas is ready to respond to severe weather expected to hit West and East Texas today and in the coming days," stated Governor Abbott. "As we monitor the development of anticipated storms, state and local emergency response personnel are on standby to help support Texas communities throughout the storms. We urge Texans to remain vigilant, regularly monitor weather conditions, keep an emergency supply kit nearby, and heed the guidance of local officials and first responders to ensure the safety of yourselves and your loved ones."
The National Weather Service forecasts that severe thunderstorms will begin impacting western parts of the state today. The storm system is predicted to move eastward, affecting North and Central Texas over the weekend, with East and Southeast Texas experiencing effects by early next week. Potential risks include heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding, large hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.
In response to these forecasts, TDEM has activated several state emergency resources as directed by Governor Abbott. These include Swiftwater Rescue Boat Squads and a Water Group Supervisor from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1).
Additional resources have been placed on standby for potential deployment. These include Game Wardens and Boat Squads from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as well as Severe Weather Support Packages from the Texas Department of State Health Services' Emergency Medical Task Force.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed through local weather updates, develop an emergency plan, and maintain an accessible emergency supply kit. For further information on road conditions, severe weather safety tips, flood data, and general disaster preparedness resources can be found at DriveTexas.org, TexasReady.gov, TexasFlood.org, and tdem.texas.gov/prepare respectively.
