Howe, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a disaster for 59 Texas counties and ordered the State Emergency Operations Center to keep running 24-hour escalated operations as heavy rain and flash flooding threaten communities across the state.
The declaration, issued July 14, lets the state rapidly deploy resources to local communities as severe storms track across Southwest, Central, and Southeast Texas. The governor's office said additional counties may be added as conditions warrant.
According to the National Weather Service, heavy rainfall is forecast through the end of the week, raising the risk of flash flooding as multiple rounds of storms hit the same areas. State agencies including the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Texas National Guard were directed to keep teams ready at the operations center.
Abbott said keeping Texans safe is his highest priority as the storms and flooding threat persist.
"The protection of Texans is my top priority. As severe storms and the threat of dangerous flash flooding continue across the state, this disaster declaration ensures we can rapidly deploy state resources to support local communities. Texas is positioned to respond quickly and effectively." — Gov. Greg Abbott
