TX governor asks State Operations Center to up its readiness level for winter weather
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is directing the Texas State Operations Center to up its readiness to respond to winter weather that’s expected in the coming days.
The operations center is operated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management and is tasked with monitoring emergencies and sending information about them to federal, state and local officials. The operations center also coordinates sending local governments help from the state during emergencies.
Abbott is asking the Texas Division of Emergency Management to increase the operation centers’ readiness to level two, escalated response. The readiness levels range from level four — normal conditions — to level one – emergency conditions.
“With below-freezing temperatures beginning to impact large portions of the state, Texas is increasing the readiness level of the State Operations Center to ensure resources are swiftly deployed to communities,” Abbott said in a statement. “As the State of Texas mobilizes the emergency response resources Texans need to stay safe and warm, I urge everyone to remain weather-aware, regularly monitor road conditions before traveling, and heed guidance from state and local officials. I thank all the first responders and emergency management personnel for their efforts to help Texas communities brace for winter weather.”
Abbott on Monday, Jan. 6 directed the division to activate state emergency response resources.
A winter storm watch is in effect for North Texas for late Wednesday night through Friday, according to the Fort Worth-Dallas division of the National Weather Service. Areas along the Red River could see 3 to 5 inches of snow, while the Dallas-Fort Worth area could see a 1 to 3 inches of a mixture of snow, sleet and ice.
This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 4:17 PM.
