~ Governor Greg Abbott has declared a disaster for 134 counties in Texas as the state prepares for severe winter weather this weekend. The Governor provided an update on the state's response to the impending storm after a briefing with state officials at the State Operations Center in Austin.

In his statement, Governor Abbott emphasized the importance of protecting lives during any disaster. He stated that due to the severity of this storm, he has declared a disaster for 134 counties to ensure that all necessary resources are available to communities. This declaration will allow the state to respond quickly and effectively.

The Governor also urged Texans to prioritize road safety and stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. He also highlighted the increased natural gas capabilities of the state's electrical grid, stating that it is fully prepared to handle this winter storm.

Governor Abbott called on all Texans to gather resources and provisions needed to prepare for below freezing temperatures, snow, rain, and sleet over the next few days. He also directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to increase the readiness level of the State Operations Center to Level II (Escalated Response).

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Earlier this week, Governor Abbott had already directed TDEM to activate state emergency response resources in anticipation of severe winter weather. In addition, the Texas Department of Public Safety issued a waiver allowing commercial truck drivers transporting essential goods like propane and groceries to operate outside maximum driving hour requirements. This waiver will be active for five days and drivers will still be subject to all other commercial vehicle laws and regulations.

Texans are encouraged to visit TDEM's Disaster Portal for winter weather information and can find safety tips at TexasReady.gov. Local officials have also opened warming centers throughout the state which can be located at tdem.texas.gov/warm. Road conditions can be checked at DriveTexas.org.

The Governor's press conference can be watched here and additional photos from the event will be provided when available. With these measures in place, Governor Abbott and state officials are confident in their ability to respond to the severe winter weather and ensure the safety and well-being of all Texans.

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