39 Texas emergency agencies to prepare for Hurricane Beryl response, recovery efforts
Jul 03, 2024
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is directing 39 Texas Emergency Management Council agencies to begin preparations to aid in hurricane response and recovery work, he announced in a release Wednesday.
Alongside those preparations, Abbott is requesting teams develop around-the-clock staffing plans for the State Emergency Operations Center, in the event Hurricane Beryl hits the Texas Gulf Coast, the release added.
RELATED: The Latest on Hurricane Beryl
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, Hurricane Beryl was classified as a Category 4, down from the Category 5 designation it reached on Monday. The National Hurricane Center has forecasted the storm will weaken while continuing on its west-northwest path through the Caribbean before eventually hitting the Gulf of Mexico this weekend, the release said.
"Texas stands ready to deploy all available resources and support to our coastal communities as Hurricane Beryl approaches the state," Abbott said in the release. "Today, I directed TDEM to issue an advisory notice to our emergency management agencies to ensure Texas is prepared and equipped for hurricane response and recovery efforts. As Texans around the south coastal areas make holiday plans and visitors begin to travel for the holiday weekend, I urge them to take necessary safety precautions, remain weather aware, and have an emergency plan ready for themselves and their families. State and local officials will continue to work around-the-clock to monitor statewide weather conditions and help protect Texans."
The participating agencies include:
Texas Division of Emergency Management
Texas A&M University System
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service – Texas A&M Task Force 1
Texas A&M Forest Service
Texas Military Department – Texas National Guard
Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Texas Department of Transportation
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Railroad Commission of TexasTexas Commission on Environmental Quality
Texas Animal Health Commission
State Comptroller of Public Accounts
Texas Commission on Fire Protection
Texas Department of Agriculture
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
Texas Department of Information Resources
Texas Department of Insurance
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
Texas Department of State Health Services
Texas Education Agency
Texas Facilities Commission
Texas General Land Office
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Texas Office of the Attorney General
Texas State Auditor’s Office
Texas Workforce Commission
Texas State University System
Texas Tech University System
University of Houston System
University of North Texas System
University of Texas System
Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
The Salvation Army
The American Red Cross
More storm information is available on the Texas Division of Emergency Management's disaster portal as well as the Texas Hurricane Center webpage. Details on storm preparedness are offered online.