Category: Politics

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that he has deployed state firefighting resources across the state as wildfire threats increase throughout Texas.Governor Greg Abbott today announced that he has deployed state firefighting resources across the state as wildfire threats increase throughout Texas.

“Texas stands ready to support local officials and communities throughout our great state as the threat of wildfire activity increases in the coming days,” said Governor Abbott. “Texas is deploying more than 200 personnel including firefighters and support staff, as well as tactical resources like fire engines, all-terrain vehicles, and bulldozers to provide on-the-ground assistance. Due to dry vegetation and high temperatures, Texans are urged to limit any activities that may cause a spark and to take all necessary precautions to keep their families and their loved ones safe. I thank the Texas Division of Emergency Management and local emergency management personnel for their diligence to prepare for wildfires in the northern and western regions of our state.”

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, wildfire activity is expected to increase in the northern and western regions of the state due to dry vegetation subjected to multiple days of triple digit temperatures. The Texas A&M Forest Service has raised the Wildland Fire Preparedness Level to Level 2 due to an increase in current and expected wildfire activity across the state. Over the past week, more than 35 wildfires have burned more than 3,000 acres across Texas.

At the Governor’s direction, the following state firefighting resources have been activated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to support wildfire response operations:

Texas A&M Forest Service: State and local firefighters through the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System totaling more than 200 firefighters and support personnel as well as 45 equipment resources such as fire engines, bulldozers, and motor graders; 5 federally-contracted fixed wing firefighting aircraft including a single engine air tanker for retardant drops, two fire bosses for water drops, and two air attack platforms for surveillance and spotting
Texas National Guard: CH47 Chinook rotary wing helicopter with firefighting capability
Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas Emergency Medical Task Force): Wildland Fire Support Packages including paramedics, ambulances, and all-terrain vehicles

The State of Texas continues to request aircraft assistance from the federal government, but recent requests have not been able to be filled due to lack of aircraft availability.

At Governor Abbott’s direction, the Texas State Emergency Operations Center will begin statewide wildfire coordination calls tomorrow to provide local and state partners with situational awareness and ensure coordination between responders.

Additionally, based on current conditions and the fire weather forecast, Governor Abbott has directed the Texas A&M Forest Service to open the Abilene Air Tanker Base at Abilene Regional Airport to assist state and local responders in wildfire suppression efforts across Texas.

Texans are urged to prepare for wildfire danger by limiting activities that cause sparks, following instructions from local officials, making an emergency plan, and keeping emergency supplies readily available. Texans can visit TexasReady.gov and tfsweb.tamu.edu for wildfire tips and safety information.

Governor Greg Abbott today issued a proclamation announcing Tuesday, November 5, 2024 as the special election date to fill the 18th Congressional District seat vacated by the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Governor Greg Abbott today issued a proclamation announcing Tuesday, November 5, 2024 as the special election date to fill the 18th Congressional District seat vacated by the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. 

Candidates who wish to have their names placed on the special election ballot must file their applications with the Secretary of State no later than 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Early voting will begin Monday, October, 21, 2024. 

Read the Governor’s full special election proclamation.  

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Fernando Fernandez to the Governor’s Committee to Support the Military for a term to expire at the pleasure of the Governor. Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Fernando Fernandez to the Governor’s Committee to Support the Military for a term to expire at the pleasure of the Governor. The committee studies and makes recommendations on how to best maintain and enhance military value at existing military installations in Texas and how to best make Texas a more attractive destination for additional military missions.

Fernando Fernandez of Nolanville is the vice president of military banking at First National Bank Texas. He is a board member of the Workforce Solutions of Central Texas and the Killeen Independent School District Education Foundation. Additionally, he is a member Association of the United States Army – Central Texas Chapter Board of Governors and the Rotary Club of Killeen Heights. Fernandez received a Bachelor of Applied Arts from the University of the Incarnate Word. He served in the United States Army for 21 years until his retirement in 2016 at Fort Cavazos.

Governor Greg Abbott today met with the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CenterPoint Energy, Jason P. Wells, and the Executive Vice President of Regulatory and Government Affairs, Jason Ryan, at the Texas Capitol in Austin to discuss their proposal to better respond to future severe weather events.Governor Greg Abbott today met with the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CenterPoint Energy, Jason P. Wells, and the Executive Vice President of Regulatory and Government Affairs, Jason Ryan, at the Texas Capitol in Austin to discuss their proposal to better respond to future severe weather events.
  
Governor Abbott spent over two and a half hours with Wells and Ryan thoroughly reviewing each line of CenterPoint Energy’s proposed response to his letter directing them to adequately better prepare for the next severe weather event in Southeast Texas by improving their preparation and response practices. The Governor stressed that CenterPoint Energy’s proposal was inadequate and instructed them that more must be done and it must be completed faster than originally proposed. 
 
Governor Abbott reiterated the importance of fulfilling all of his original directives and the necessity of completing their restoration projects, such as vegetation removal and pole replacement, before the next tropical storm hits their region.
 
During the meeting, the Governor directed the CenterPoint Energy executives to develop a new, accelerated proposal that meets the Governor’s requirements to improve their severe weather preparation and response practices. The CenterPoint Energy executives agreed to immediately release the new proposal that incorporated the new directives made by Governor Abbott.
 
View CenterPoint Energy’s original proposal to the Governor with the new, accelerated conditions here.
 

Governor Abbott Renews Border Security Disaster Proclamation In July 2024TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

WHEREAS, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on May 31, 2021, certifying under Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code that the surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas–Mexico border posed an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster for a number of Texas counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster; and

WHEREAS, I amended the aforementioned proclamation in a number of subsequent proclamations, including to modify the list of affected counties and therefore declare a state of disaster for those counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster; and

WHEREAS, the certified conditions continue to exist and pose an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster as set forth in the prior proclamations;

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster for Aransas, Atascosa, Bee, Brewster, Brooks, Caldwell, Cameron, Chambers, Coleman, Colorado, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jackson, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Lavaca, Live Oak, Mason, Maverick, McCulloch, McMullen, Medina, Menard, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Refugio, San Patricio, Schleicher, Shackelford, Sutton, Terrell, Throckmorton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Webb, Wharton, Wilbarger, Wilson, Zapata, and Zavala Counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster.  All orders, directions, suspensions, and authorizations provided in the Proclamation of May 31, 2021, as amended and renewed in subsequent proclamations, are in full force and effect.

In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 28th day of July, 2024. 

GREG ABBOTT

Governor

ATTESTED BY:

JANE NELSON

Secretary of State

View the Governor’s proclamation.