Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to mobilize additional emergency response resources due to anticipated severe weather and flash flooding across Texas. This move comes as large parts of the state face severe weather from today through the weekend, with potential snow in the Panhandle region.
"As severe weather threatens communities throughout Texas, the State of Texas stands ready to assist local officials to keep Texans safe," stated Governor Abbott. He instructed TDEM to activate more state resources to aid local officials and first responders. He urged Texans to be vigilant, adhere to local warnings, and have an emergency plan prepared for events like severe storms, flash flooding, tornadoes, and winter weather. "Texas will continue to monitor these evolving threats to ensure communities have the resources and support they need to respond to this severe weather event," Abbott reassured.
The National Weather Service forecasts heavy rainfall, capable of causing flash flooding, from today through Saturday night across many regions of Texas. Severe storms could produce threats like large hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes. Snowfall is expected in parts of the Panhandle, posing potential disruptions. Wildfire danger remains a concern in some areas of Southwest Texas, and residents are encouraged to keep up with local weather forecasts.
Following Governor Abbott's directives, over 700 state emergency responders and 300 pieces of equipment have been deployed to support responses to severe weather, winter conditions, and wildfire threats across Texas.
Specific resources prepared to aid local operations include:
- Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service's Swiftwater Rescue and Flood Water Boat Squads
- TDEM's Incident Management Team and Support Task Force
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's rescue teams and helicopters
- Texas Department of Public Safety's troop deployments and Tactical Marine Unit
- Texas National Guard personnel with high-profile vehicles
- Texas A&M Forest Service's firefighting resources
- Texas Emergency Medical Task Force's support packages
- Various state departments aiding in disaster recovery, monitoring, and resource coordination
The Texas State Emergency Operations Center remains active at Level II (Escalated Response) to support these efforts.
To stay safe, Texans are advised to follow local official instructions, create emergency plans, and gather necessary supplies. Guidance for road conditions and safety can be found on websites such as DriveTexas.org, TexasReady.gov, TexasFlood.org, and tdem.texas.gov/prepare.
