In a preemptive move responding to forecasts of severe weather conditions, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate the state's emergency response teams. The governor's office has stated that "Texas is prepared to deploy all resources needed to support local communities in South and Southeast Texas as they prepare to respond to severe weather and flash flooding," cautioning residents to be vigilant and prepared, as reported by TDEM.
Residents across South and Southeast Texas are set to experience the brunt of these conditions with heavy rainfall, likely to spur flash flooding particularly due to the region's parched earth, which is a recipe for rapid and excessive runoff, meanwhile, severe storms are anticipated mid to late week with the potential to inflict further damage through wind and hail. In a statement obtained by TDEM, Abbott emphasized the importance of heeding weather reports and following local officials' directives, underscoring the state's slogan for flood safety: "Turn Around, Don’t Drown."
TDEM's activation of resources includes the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service's swiftwater rescue boat squads and urban search and rescue teams in addition to the deployment of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's game wardens and helicopters equipped for rescue operations. The Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas National Guard are also contributing various assets, including helicopters, high-profile vehicles, and personnel as part of the state’s readiness strategy.
Moreover, the state has also prepared a series of additional resources, including the Tactical Marine Unit of the Texas Department of Public Safety, disaster assessment and recovery agents from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and support for the utility and energy sectors through the Public Utility Commission and Railroad Commission. These standby units are ready to assist in severe weather response operations as needed.
The Texas State Emergency Operations Center is maintaining an escalated Level II response to support any requests for state assistance, further strengthened by the Texas Emergency Management Council's vigilance over the increased wildfire dangers in West Texas.
Texans looking for more information on flood preparedness and safety can access TexasFlood.org and TexasReady.gov for plans and tips, while updates on road conditions can be found at DriveTexas.org. Similarly, those concerned about general emergency preparedness are directed to visit tdem.texas.gov/prepare.
