Austin News

Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to prepare state emergency response resources in anticipation of severe thunderstorms that are expected to affect the eastern half of Texas. The Governor emphasized the readiness of the state to swiftly respond with emergency resources to assist local officials in ensuring the safety of their communities during severe weather.

In a statement, Governor Abbott said, "Texas is ready to swiftly respond with emergency resources to help local officials keep their communities safe amid severe weather. Texans in at-risk areas are encouraged to remain vigilant, regularly monitor weather conditions, and take necessary safety precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones. I thank all of the brave emergency personnel as they prepare to protect their fellow Texans during this severe weather."

The National Weather Service has issued warnings of severe thunderstorms that are expected to move across the state tomorrow, bringing with them a slight to enhanced risk of tornadoes. Additional threats include damaging winds, large hail, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding in the eastern half of Texas.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management has been directed by Governor Abbott to place several state emergency response resources on standby to support severe weather response operations if necessary. These resources include Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1) with their boat squads and urban search and rescue teams, Texas A&M Forest Service with their incident management teams and saw crews, Texas Department of State Health Services with their severe weather packages, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with their game wardens and boat squads, Texas Department of Transportation with personnel and equipment for traffic control and road closures, Texas Department of Public Safety with Texas Highway Patrol Troopers, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality with air/water/wastewater monitoring, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service with disaster assessment and recovery agents, and Public Utility Commission of Texas with power outage monitoring and coordination with utility providers in the threat area.

Governor Abbott urges Texans to be prepared for the impact of severe weather by taking safety precautions. This includes paying attention to warnings from local officials, creating an emergency plan, and staying updated with local weather forecasts. Road conditions can be checked at DriveTexas.org, and flood tracking information is available at TexasFlood.org.

As Texans brace themselves for the severe weather, Governor Abbott's directive to mobilize state emergency response resources demonstrates the state's commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-directs-state-emergency-response-resources-ahead-of-severe-weather