Governor Abbott mobilizes state resources ahead of severe weather across Texas | Texas Governor’s Office
Governor Greg Abbott today directed the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) to mobilize the state’s emergency response resources ahead of expected severe weather moving across Texas this week.
“Texans across the state should remain weather aware as this severe weather moves across Texas,” Governor Abbott said. “The State of Texas stands ready to support local officials and emergency response personnel on the ground to keep Texans and our communities safe. I thank all of our emergency response personnel who are working day and night to protect their fellow Texans this Thanksgiving holiday week.”
According to the National Weather Service, a storm system moving through the state is expected to bring severe thunderstorms to East Texas today. Primary threats include strong winds, large hail, and tornadoes.
At the direction of Governor Abbott, TDEM has activated the following state resources to support severe weather response operations:
- Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1): Urban search and rescue teams
Additionally, TDEM has placed the following resources on standby to support severe weather response operations as needed:
- Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas Task Force 2): Urban search and rescue teams
- Texas A&M Forest Service: Incident management teams and chainsaw crews
- Texas Department of State Health Services (Emergency Medical Task Force): Severe weather packs
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Boat guards and teams game
- Texas Department of Transportation: Personnel and equipment to assist with traffic control and road closures
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air/water/wastewater monitoring
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster assessment and recovery agents
- Texas Public Utilities Commission: Monitor power outages and coordinate with service providers in the threat area
Texans are urged to take strict weather safety preparedness precautions, including creating an emergency plan, heeding warnings from local officials, and monitoring local weather forecasts. Texas residents can visit TexasReady.gov for severe weather safety information.
Additionally, the Texas Emergency Management Board is monitoring the potential for snow and low temperatures from the Panhandle to the southern Plains over Thanksgiving weekend. Texans can check road conditions at DriveTexas.org and locate cold weather resources at TexasReady.gov.
