As Texas braces for a significant winter storm, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has initiated a comprehensive strategy to increase state agency preparedness and emergency response, according to a statement obtained by CBS Austin. Outlining this readiness plan, Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd stressed the importance of personal preparedness, urging Texans "to stay informed, take proactive measures to protect their families, and follow guidance from local authorities as this winter weather event approaches."
Moving to a Level II (Escalated Response) at the Texas State Emergency Operations Center (SOC), set for 7:00 a.m. on Monday, indicates the seriousness with which state officials are taking the impending conditions; multiple agencies, including the Texas Department of Transportation who will activate winter weather roadway equipment and crews for pre-treating and treating roadways, Texas A&M Forest Service with saw crews prepped for snow and ice clearance, and the Texas National Guard with high-profile vehicles ready to assist stranded motorists are all part of a comprehensive mobilization effort, as detailed by a report from MSN.
Additional agencies involved in this collaborative push for storm preparedness include the Texas Department of Public Safety, with Texas Highway Patrol Troopers slated to patrol roadways and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department ready to support local law enforcement and provide vehicular assistance for stranded individuals. Furthermore, the Public Utility Commission of Texas will be monitoring potential power outages and coordinating with utility providers to address issues arising from the storm's impact.
Texans seeking information on winter weather resources, such as safety tips, warming center locations or current road conditions, are directed to the Texas Disaster Portal at tdem.texas.gov, where an array of services and guidance awaits individuals seeking to navigate through the challenges posed by the approaching weather system this multifaceted preparedness plan involves numerous other entities, including the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service's Public Works Response Teams coordinating Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (Texas VOAD) taking the lead in organizing volunteer organizations statewide and the Texas Animal Health Commission and Texas Department of Agriculture both making respective measures to protect animal and agricultural resources, denoting a statewide resolve to overcome the adverse effects anticipated with the winter storm.
