() Gov. Greg Abbott directed state emergency management officials on Thursday to activate response resources as a tropical weather system threatens Southeast and East Texas with heavy rain and dangerous rip currents in the coming days.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management has positioned multiple state agencies and specialized teams across the region as the National Hurricane Center monitors the system moving across the northeastern Gulf Coast.
“Texas is prepared to provide all necessary resources to support local officials as a severe storm system moves along the Gulf Coast towards East and Southeast Texas and the Texas Coast,” Abbott said in a statement.
At the Governor’s direction, the following state emergency response resources are available to support local tropical weather response operations:
– Texas Division of Emergency Management: The State of Texas Incident Management Team to support deployed emergency response resources across the state
– Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1): Swiftwater Rescue Boat Squads to assist with flood rescues
– Texas A&M Forest Service (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System): Strike Teams consisting of personnel and fire engines to support local departments
– Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas Emergency Medical Task Force): Severe Weather Support Packages consisting of medics, ambulances, and all-terrain vehicles
– Texas National Guard: High profile vehicles to assist stranded motorists
– Texas Department of Transportation: Personnel monitoring road conditions
– Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Game Wardens, rescue boat teams, and helicopters with hoist capability to assist with flood rescues
– Texas Department of Public Safety: Helicopters with hoist capabilities, Texas Highway Patrol Troopers, and the Tactical Marine Unit
– Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster Assessment and Recovery Agents as well as County Extension Agents to support agricultural and livestock needs
– Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power outage monitoring and coordination with utility providers
– Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring of the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
– Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air/water/wastewater monitoringOffice of the Texas Governor
The emergency activation comes as state agencies continue supporting local response efforts following recent flooding across Texas.
Officials reminded residents to stay informed, follow local guidance, create emergency plans and build supply kits. Safety information is available at TexasReady.gov, weather.gov and noaa.gov.
Flash flooding claimed more than 100 lives in Central Texas
At least 135 people across Central Texas are confirmed dead, including dozens of children who were attending summer camp in the Hill Country, after catastrophic flooding over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The flash flooding deluged summer camps in Kerr County, dotted along the Guadalupe River, and also left families in Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green, Travis and Williamson Counties looking for family members swept away in the floodwaters.
affiliate KXAN contributed to this report.
