Austin News

Governor Greg Abbott has taken proactive measures to prepare Texas for potential emergencies by directing the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate additional state emergency response resources. This decision comes in anticipation of critical wildfire conditions in West Texas and an increased risk of severe storms in North and East Texas this week.

"As the state faces increased wildfire risks in West Texas and potential severe storms in North and East Texas, Texas stands ready to swiftly deploy additional emergency response resources to communities that may be impacted,” said Governor Abbott. He advised residents of West Texas to avoid activities that could cause sparks or flames due to dry conditions and persistent winds. For those in North and East Texas, he urged them to heed advice from state and local officials regarding safety during possible severe weather.

The Texas A&M Forest Service reports that dry surface fuels combined with sustained winds create ideal conditions for rapid wildfires across various regions, including the Panhandle, South Plains, Concho Valley, Big Country, Permian Basin, Far West, Hill Country, as well as parts of North, Central, and South Texas. Consequently, the Wildland Fire Preparedness Level has been elevated to Level 3 due to droughts and frequent fire weather events affecting multiple areas.

In addition to wildfire threats, TDEM is closely monitoring forecasts from the National Weather Service indicating an increased threat of severe storms potentially impacting northern and eastern parts of the state early this week. These storms could bring tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding.

To address these challenges effectively at the Governor's directive TDEM has readied a comprehensive array of resources:

- The Texas A&M Forest Service will deploy over 200 firefighters along with support personnel; they also have firefighting aircraft on standby.

- The State Incident Management Team will oversee operations statewide.

- The National Guard will provide Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters equipped for firefighting.

- The Department of State Health Services is prepared with medics and ambulances for both wildfire incidents or severe weather events.

- Various departments are set up with equipment such as helicopters for rescue missions or power outage monitoring systems.

Texans are encouraged not only implement preventative measures against wildfires but also prepare themselves adequately should any storm arise—this includes having an emergency plan ready while keeping necessary supplies within reach.

For further guidance on how best prepare yourself your community visit either website: [TexasReady.gov](http://TexasReady.gov) or [tdem.texas.gov/prepare](http://tdem.texas.gov/prepare). Current updates about wildfires can be found at [tfsweb.tamu.edu](http://tfsweb.tamu.edu).