Governor Abbott activates state of emergency as most of Texas braces for severe winter weather

AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency ahead of severe winter weather expected to affect most of the state.

On Tuesday evening, the Office of the Texas Governor released a statement declaring that the severe weather expected to begin on Thursday was the catalyst for the decision.

While the declaration is for statewide impacts expected to begin on Thursday, ABC13 meteorologists said southeast Texas will see the effects of the winter storm starting on Saturday. The governor said the regions that will likely experience the worst of the wintry conditions are northwest, north, and northeast Texas

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Abbott announced that he directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of the potential winter weather impacts across the state.

"Based on current forecasts, the State of Texas is acting to ensure Texans have the resources they need before severe winter weather impacts communities across Texas," Abbott said. "I thank emergency management personnel and first responders for working tirelessly to keep Texans safe."

Abbott said it is crucial that Texans remain weather-aware, check DriveTexas.org before traveling, and to heed the guidance of state and local officials.

Abbott listed the following agencies as the ones activated ahead of the winter storm: Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas National Guard, Texas A&M Forest Service (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Railroad Commission of Texas, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Public Works Response Team), Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Department of State Health Services (Emergency Medical Task Force), Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Education Agency, and Texas Department of Information Resources.

The governor's office urged Texans to seek shelter at any of the state's warming centers listed on the TDEM webpage.