Governor issues disaster declaration for Chambers, Galveston Counties

On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for Galveston and Chambers Counties in response to sever weather and flooding impacting the region.

(Galveston, TX) – Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for Galveston and Chambers Counties in response to severe weather and flooding impacting the region. The declaration comes as a proactive measure to ensure swift and effective response efforts to protect the lives and property of Texans affected by the ongoing severe weather conditions. 

In accordance with the Governor’s directives, state agencies are actively engaged in supporting local response operations. The following resources are currently deployed and available to assist with severe weather and flooding response efforts: 

• 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 

Moreover, the following state emergency response resources are on standby to bolster local response operations: 

• 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 of volunteer organizations across the state 

While individual assistance has not yet been approved at the federal level, citizens are urged to self-report damage to homes, businesses, and agriculture using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT). This critical information helps officials identify immediate resource needs and determine eligibility for disaster assistance. iSTAT can be accessed through https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/. 

In response to the ongoing situation, Representative Terri Leo Wilson emphasized the importance of citizens reporting damage and staying engaged with recovery efforts, stating, “I urge everyone in our district to report any damage they’ve incurred and to remain engaged as we continue to monitor and respond to the effects of this severe weather and flooding. Your reports are crucial in ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most.” 

We will not know the full extent of the damage done for a few weeks but our office will continue to monitor the situation.