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Texas: Governor Abbott Activates State Emergency Response Resources Ahead Of Winter Weather Threat

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~ Governor Greg Abbott has taken proactive measures to ensure the safety of Texans as potential winter weather impacts are expected to hit the state on Thursday. In a statement released by his office, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources in preparation for the severe weather.

The Governor emphasized the importance of being prepared for the upcoming weather conditions, stating, "As temperatures could drop below freezing and regions of Texas face snow, ice, and freezing rain, it is crucial that Texans remain weather-aware, check DriveTexas.org before traveling, and heed the guidance of state and local officials." He also expressed his gratitude towards emergency management personnel and first responders for their tireless efforts in keeping Texans safe.

According to the National Weather Service, an arctic cold front is expected to bring dangerously cold temperatures and wind-chills to the state through early next week. In addition, a storm system is predicted to move through Texas, bringing with it the possibility of freezing rain, sleet, and snow. These conditions could create hazardous travel conditions and cause damage to infrastructure. The areas most at risk for wintry weather are northwest, north, and northeast Texas. However, freezing rain and sleet may also impact areas across west, central, south-central, east, and southeast Texas. Cold rain is expected for areas in deep south Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.

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In response to Governor Abbott's directive, TDEM has activated various state emergency response resources to support weather response operations. These include winter weather roadway equipment and crews from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), personnel from TDEM working with local partners to update warming center maps, high-profile vehicles from the Texas National Guard to assist stranded motorists, all-hazard strike teams from the Texas A&M Forest Service (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System), game wardens from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to support local law enforcement, and power outage monitoring and coordination with utility providers from the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Other resources that have been activated include monitoring of the state's natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry by the Railroad Commission of Texas, air/water/wastewater monitoring by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Highway Patrol Troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety to patrol roadways, personnel from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Public Works Response Team) to assist with public works needs, disaster assessment and recovery agents from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, winter and severe weather packages including medics and ambulances from the Texas Department of State Health Services (Emergency Medical Task Force), personnel from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to provide information on available services through the 2-1-1 Texas Information Referral Network, monitoring of school district needs across the state by the Texas Education Agency, and technology infrastructure monitoring by the Texas Department of Information Resources.

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Texans are urged to stay informed about weather conditions, check road conditions before any necessary travel, and follow instructions from local officials. They can access winter weather safety tips at TexasReady.gov, check road conditions at DriveTexas.org, find warming centers opened and operated by local officials at tdem.texas.gov/warm, and find general preparedness information at tdem.texas.gov/prepare. By taking these precautions and staying vigilant during this potential winter weather event, Texans can ensure their safety and well-being.

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