Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to raise the readiness level of the Texas State Emergency Operations Center (SOC) to Level II (Escalated Response) in anticipation of critical wildfire danger across western Texas starting today.
“Texas is taking action to strengthen wildfire preparedness and protection across our great state,” said Governor Abbott. “I have directed the strategic placement of personnel and resources to equip our first responders with the tools they need to act swiftly in high-risk areas to save lives and protect critical infrastructure. I thank the Texas Division of Emergency Management, our local leaders, and first responders for their efforts to protect Texans from the threat of wildfire.”
The Texas A&M Forest Service reports that much of West Texas and the High Plains are expected to face elevated or critical fire weather conditions through Thursday. The most significant impacts are expected today and tomorrow due to strong winds, dry fuels, and above-normal temperatures. These factors may cause blowing dust, hazardous travel conditions, and difficulties for responders in controlling new fires. Fire weather risks could extend eastward later this week before conditions improve following a cold front Thursday night.
Governor Abbott instructed TDEM to request representatives from several agencies within the Texas Emergency Management Council report to the SOC. These agencies include: Texas Department of Transportation; Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service; Texas A&M Forest Service; Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas Emergency Medical Task Force); Texas Health and Human Services Commission; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service; Texas Animal Health Commission; Texas Department of Agriculture; Public Utility Commission of Texas; Railroad Commission of Texas; Texas Department of Public Safety; Texas Parks and Wildlife; Texas National Guard; Texas Department of Information Resources; Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster including American Red Cross and Salvation Army.
TDEM was also directed by Governor Abbott to mobilize additional state wildfire response resources for local officials. Current resources available include more than 500 firefighters and support staff from various levels, over 150 pieces of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, more than 25 federally contracted firefighting aircraft, Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters with firefighting capability from the National Guard, medics with ambulances from health services, game wardens from Parks & Wildlife, disaster assessment agents for agricultural needs, power outage monitoring teams, natural gas supply monitors, environmental quality inspectors, technology infrastructure monitoring teams, school district support liaisons, among others.
These measures follow other recent resource activations by Governor Abbott over the weekend supporting local wildfire response efforts.
Texans are encouraged to avoid activities that might create sparks during this period. Residents should develop emergency plans, prepare kits, follow official guidance locally, and access wildfire safety information at TexasReady.gov or tfsweb.tamu.edu. General preparedness details can be found at tdem.texas.gov/prepare.
Greg Abbott has led as governor since his election in 2014 according to information from his official website. The Office focuses on statewide issues including job creation—where it notes record employment growth—economic opportunities, education improvement efforts like parental empowerment in schooling decisions, individual liberties protection initiatives as well as southern border security priorities (source). The main offices remain based at Austin’s State Insurance Building (source). In 2024 Greg Abbott was recognized among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People (source). The Office delivers services throughout all regions across the state (source).
