Austin News

Governor Greg Abbott has renewed a drought disaster declaration in Texas, citing ongoing exceptional drought conditions in multiple counties. The declaration, originally issued in July 2022 and renewed several times since then, has now been extended to include various counties across the state.

In a statement, Governor Abbott declared, "I do hereby amend and renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster in Bandera, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Calhoun, Cameron, and several other counties." The Texas Division of Emergency Management has confirmed the persistence of drought conditions in these areas, except for Guadalupe and Uvalde Counties.

The Governor authorized the use of all available state and local resources to address the disaster, stating, "I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster." Additionally, he suspended certain regulatory statutes and rules to ensure an effective emergency response, emphasizing the importance of protecting life and property during this declared disaster.

The proclamation, signed on April 16, 2024, by Governor Abbott and attested by Secretary of State Jane Nelson, aims to facilitate the necessary actions to address the ongoing drought crisis in the specified counties.