Governor Declares Disaster for Flooding in East Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — Governor Greg Abbott took decisive action Tuesday by issuing a disaster declaration for 29 Texas counties severely impacted by relentless storms and flooding that commenced last week and continue to wreak havoc on homes, businesses, and agricultural endeavors statewide.

The counties encompassed in the Governor’s proclamation include: Baylor, Chambers, Dickens, Ellis, Freestone, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Haskell, Hill, Hood, Hunt, Kaufman, Knox, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Montgomery, Navarro, Polk, San Jacinto, Somervell, Tarrant, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, and Wichita counties.

In a statement, Governor Abbott emphasized the unwavering commitment of the Lone Star State in assisting communities grappling with the aftermath of recent severe weather and flooding. "This disaster declaration will swiftly provide Texans with all readily available resources needed to recover following storms and flood activity," said Governor Abbott. He urged residents in at-risk areas to remain vigilant of the ongoing flood threat and to take necessary precautions to safeguard themselves and their families. Acknowledging the tireless efforts of emergency response personnel and first responders, Governor Abbott expressed gratitude, stating, "I thank the countless emergency response personnel and first responders who are working around-the-clock to protect their fellow Texans."

The National Weather Service has forecasted moderate-to-major river flooding across the eastern half of the state, beginning Tuesday and anticipated to persist over the forthcoming weeks. Additionally, severe weather coupled with excessive rainfall, potentially leading to flash flooding, is expected to persist across Texas through the weekend. Hazards include flooding, large hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.

Under the Governor’s directive, state agencies are steadfastly supporting requests for state assistance. Resources presently engaged and available to bolster local severe weather and flooding response efforts include:

• Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1 and Texas Task Force 2): Urban Search & Rescue Teams; Swiftwater Boat Squads
• Texas National Guard: UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with hoist capability; Ground Transportation Platoons with High Profile Vehicles
• Texas Division of Emergency Management: Emergency response personnel to support requests for state assistance from local officials

Additionally, state emergency response resources are on standby to reinforce local response operations, including:

• Texas A&M Forest Service: Incident Management Teams and saw crews
• Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas Emergency Medical Task Force): Wildland Fire Support Packages and Severe Weather Support Packages including paramedics and ambulances
• Texas Department of Transportation: Personnel and equipment to assist with road closures; motor graders to support emergency response operations
• Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol Troopers to assist with road closures and traffic control; Tactical Marine Unit and helicopters with hoist capability
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Park Law Enforcement and Game Wardens to provide law enforcement support; boat squads
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Disaster Assessment and Recovery Agents as well as AgriLife Extension Agents to support agricultural and livestock needs
• Texas Animal Health Commission: Personnel to provide livestock support
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air/water/wastewater monitoring
• Public Utility Commission of Texas: Personnel to coordinate with utility providers across the threat area
• Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring of the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
• Texas Education Agency: Monitoring school district needs across the state
• Texas Department of Information Resources: Monitoring technology infrastructure
• Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (Texas VOAD): Coordinating volunteer organizations across the state

Local and state officials are diligently assessing the extent of damage across the affected regions. As storm and flooding impacts persist across the state and severe weather remains in the forecast, officials will continue identifying damages and immediate resource needs. Moreover, officials will make determinations regarding the state’s eligibility for various forms of federal disaster assistance for impacted residents. Additional counties may be appended to the declaration at a later date.

To facilitate the damage assessment process, Texans are urged to self-report damage to homes, businesses, and agriculture via the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT), accessible through damage.tdem.texas.gov. The information gleaned through iSTAT assists officials in pinpointing immediate resource needs and aids in determining eligibility for disaster assistance. The survey is available in both English and Spanish, supplemented by tutorial videos to streamline the submission process.

Amid the persistent threat posed by storms and flooding, Texans are encouraged to stay abreast of local forecasts, devise an emergency plan, and adhere to directives issued by local officials. Information on flood risk can be accessed at TexasFlood.org, while road conditions are available at DriveTexas.org. For safety tips, individuals can visit TexasReady.gov, and for preparedness advice, tdem.texas.gov/prepare is a valuable resource.