Governor Again Renews Proclamation Extending Drought Emergency
I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued an Emergency Disaster Proclamation on March 9, 2015, certifying that exceptional drought conditions posed a threat of imminent disaster in specified counties in Texas.
WHEREAS, significantly low rainfall across Texas beginning in late 2010 and continuing has resulted in declining reservoir and aquifer levels, threatening water supplies and delivery systems in many parts of the state; and
WHEREAS, prolonged dry conditions continue to increase the threat of wildfire across many portions of the state; and
WHEREAS, these drought conditions have reached historic levels and continue to pose an imminent threat to public health, property and the economy; and
WHEREAS, this state of disaster includes the counties of Archer, Armstrong, Bandera, Baylor, Bosque, Briscoe, Burnet, Callahan, Carson, Childress, Clay, Collin, Collingsworth, Colorado, Comal, Comanche, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Dallas, Denton, Dickens, Donley, Eastland, Edwards, El Paso, Erath, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gillespie, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hamilton, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Haskell, Hemphill, Hidalgo, Hood, Hudspeth, Hunt, Hutchinson, Irion, Jack, Johnson, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, King, Knox, Lamb, Lampasas, Lipscomb, Llano, Matagorda, McCulloch, McLennan, Medina, Mills, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Palo Pinto, Parker, Parmer, Potter, Real, Roberts, Rockwall, San Saba, Shackelford, Sherman, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Tarrant, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Travis, Uvalde, Walker, Wharton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Williamson, Wise and Young.
THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby renew the disaster proclamation. Additionally, I direct that requests to suspend any rule or regulation that may inhibit or prevent prompt response to this threat, pursuant to Section 418.016, shall be submitted to the Office of the Governor for approval.
In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.
GREG ABBOTT
Governor
View a PDF of the Proclamation here.