"Texas is closely monitoring increased weather threats expected across Texas throughout the week," said Governor Abbott. "I have directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to increase the State Operations Center to Readiness Level II for Texas to better respond to potential severe weather. I urge all Texans to remain weather aware, heed the guidance of state and local officials, and create an emergency plan to keep themselves and their loved ones safe."

According to the National Weather Service, a storm system moving through the state is expected to bring daily risks of severe thunderstorms through the later part of this week across large portions of the state. Threats include large hail, damaging wind gusts, possible tornadoes, heavy rainfall, and possible tornadoes. Flash flooding concerns caused by repeated rounds of heavy rainfall remains a threat through the weekend. Texans are urged to monitor local forecast information from trusted weather sources.

At the direction of the Governor, TDEM requested that representatives from the following member agencies of the Texas Emergency Management Council report to the SOC:

• 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
• Electric Reliability Council of Texas
• Texas Department of Public Safety
• Texas Parks and Wildlife
• Texas National Guard
• Texas Department of Information Resources
• Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
• American Red Cross
• Salvation Army

Additionally, Governor Abbott directed TDEM to mobilize additional state emergency response resources ahead of severe weather impacts. At the Governor’s direction, the following state emergency response resources remain available to support local severe weather operations and ongoing wildfire response:

• Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1 and Texas Task Force 2): Swiftwater Rescue Boat Squads and Urban Search and Rescue Teams to assist with flood rescues
• Texas Division of Emergency Management: The State of Texas Incident Management Team, All Hazards Group responders, Incident Support Task Force, Disaster Recovery Task Force, and regional personnel to support deployed emergency response resources across the state
• Texas Department of Transportation: Personnel monitoring road conditions
• Texas A&M Forest Service (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System): More than 350 state, local, and out-of-state firefighters and support personnel; More than 115 pieces of heavy equipment such as bulldozers and motor graders; and more than 20 federally contracted firefighting aircraft including large air tankers, single-engine air tankers for retardant drops, super scoopers for water drops, air attack platforms for surveillance and spotting, an aerial supervision module for aerial guidance 
• Texas National Guard: Personnel and high-profile vehicles to assist stranded motorists; Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters with firefighting capability
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Game Wardens, rescue boat teams, and helicopters with hoist capability to assist with water rescues
• Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol Troopers, helicopters with hoist capability, and the Tactical Marine Unit to assist stranded motorists
• Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas Emergency Medical Task Force): Wildland Fire and Severe Weather Support Packages consisting of medics, ambulances, and all-terrain vehicles
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster Assessment and Recovery Agents and County Extension Agents to support agricultural and livestock needs
• Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power outage monitoring and coordination with utility providers
• Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air, water, and wastewater monitoring

Texans are encouraged to prepare for severe weather and wildfire impacts by making an emergency plan, following directions from local officials, and packing an emergency supply kit. Texans are reminded never to walk or drive through flooded roadways as storms move through the state and are urged to avoid activities that could cause a spark in areas experiencing increased fire danger.

For real-time road conditions, visit DriveTexas.org, find comprehensive severe weather and wildfire safety information at TexasReady.gov, and access all-hazards preparedness tips at tdem.texas.gov/prepare.

"Texas has secured federal resources to further guard against wildfire threats in the Panhandle," said Governor Abbott. "With this grant approval, Texas has additional tools to help Texans remain safe from wildfire danger. I thank the Trump Administration for providing these resources, and for the brave firefighters on the ground protecting Texans." 

As of this morning, the Stinky Fire has burned more than an estimated 2,500 acres and is 20 percent contained. The fire prompted the evacuation of approximately 540 homes in the surrounding area. State and local response personnel are actively engaged in suppression, containment, and public safety operations.

The approval of a Fire Management Assistance Grant makes the State of Texas eligible for 75 percent reimbursement from the federal government for eligible costs associated with wildfire suppression. These grants are available to states and local jurisdictions to support the mitigation, management, and control of fires that threaten to become major disasters.

At the Governor's direction, state wildfire response resources remain deployed by the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to support local wildfire response efforts across the state. TDEM and the Texas Emergency Management Council agencies continue to monitor increased wildfire conditions across areas of West and Northwest Texas.

Texans can find wildfire resources including safety tips, current fire information, and damage reporting tools in the TDEM Disaster Portal online at disaster.texas.gov.

Joyce Wilson of El Paso is the former CEO of Workforce Solutions Borderplex, a regional workforce development entity under the Texas Workforce Commission. She also served as El Paso’s first city manager from 2004-2014. She is a member of the board of ReadyOne Industries and a fellow with the National Academy of Public Administration. Governor Abbott first appointed Wilson to the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority in 2019. Wilson received a Bachelor of Science in Business and Economics from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.

Kathey Comer of Tyler is retired and has served on the Council since 2025. She previously served as the East Texas regional director for U.S. Senator John Cornyn and as executive vice president for the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin, the Dallas Builders Association, and the Tyler Area Builders Association. She is a member of Catalyst 100 and a certified Main Street Director. Additionally, she is a visionary member for the Women’s Fund of Smith County, a sustaining member of The Junior League of Austin, a Volunteer Committee Coordinator for the Texas Book Festival, and secretary of the board of directors for the Black Hills Cemetery. Comer received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Baylor University, an advanced degree in Gerontology and Long-Term Care Administration from University of North Texas and did post graduate work in early childhood education from The University of Texas at Tyler.

"Texas is prepared to assist those impacted by forecasted storm activity across the state," said Governor Abbott. "I directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate and mobilize state emergency resources to potentially affected communities. I urge Texans to heed the guidance of state and local officials to keep themselves and their loved ones safe." 

According to the National Weather Service, a cold front moving through state later today is expected to create potentially hazardous conditions across large areas of North, Central, West, Northwest, Northeast, and South-Central Texas as the system shifts. Threats include very large hail over 2 inches in diameter, damaging wind gusts above 75 miles per hour, possible tornadoes, widespread 1 to 3+ inch rainfall, with isolated 4 to 7+ inch rain totals, and flash flooding through the middle to the end of this week.

Additionally, extremely critical fire weather conditions persist in the Panhandle and South Plains. TDEM and the Texas Emergency Management Council agencies continue to monitor increased wildfire danger across areas of West and Northwest Texas. State response personnel are actively engaged in support of local officials amid ongoing wildfire activity.

At the Governor’s direction, the following state emergency response resources remain available to support local severe weather operations and ongoing wildfire response:

• Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1 and Texas Task Force 2): Swiftwater Rescue Boat Squads and Urban Search and Rescue Teams to assist with flood rescues
• Texas Division of Emergency Management: The State of Texas Incident Management Team, All Hazards Group responders, Incident Support Task Force, Disaster Recovery Task Force, and regional personnel to support deployed emergency response resources across the state, alongside ongoing wildfire response coordination
• Texas Department of Transportation: Personnel monitoring road conditions
• Texas A&M Forest Service (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System): More than 350 state, local, and out-of-state firefighters and support personnel; More than 115 pieces of heavy equipment such as bulldozers and motor graders; and more than 20 federally contracted firefighting aircraft including large air tankers, single-engine air tankers for retardant drops, super scoopers for water drops, air attack platforms for surveillance and spotting, an aerial supervision module for aerial guidance 
• Texas National Guard: Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters with firefighting capability
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Game Wardens, rescue boat teams, and helicopters with hoist capability to assist with water rescues
• Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol Troopers, helicopters with hoist capability, and the Tactical Marine Unit to assist stranded motorists
• Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas Emergency Medical Task Force): Wildland Fire and Severe Weather Support Packages consisting of medics, ambulances, and all-terrain vehicles
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster Assessment and Recovery Agents and County Extension Agents to support agricultural and livestock needs
• Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power outage monitoring and coordination with utility providers
• Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air, water, and wastewater monitoring

Texans should proactively prepare by reviewing family communication plans, assembling emergency supply kits, and heeding guidance issued by local officials. Texans are reminded never to walk or drive through flooded roadways as storms move through the state and are urged to avoid activities that could cause a spark in areas experiencing increased fire danger. For real-time road conditions, visit DriveTexas.org, find comprehensive severe weather and wildfire safety information at TexasReady.gov, and access all-hazards preparedness tips at tdem.texas.gov/prepare.

John L. Nau, III of Houston is a businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the former chairman and CEO of Silver Eagle Distributors. His lifelong interest in American history has evolved into more than four decades of volunteer service with organizations that positively impact and advocate for historic preservation. A snapshot of Nau’s current appointments include chairman of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), and member of the University of Virginia (UVA) Board of Visitors and National Park Foundation Board of Directors. He also serves on the American Battlefield Trust Board of Trustees, Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees, and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors. Nau’s knowledge and interest in American history and historic preservation led to his former appointment as chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation by President George W. Bush. Nau graduated from UVA.

James Perry "J.P." Bryan, Jr. of Houston and Galveston is the founder and CEO of Torch Energy Advisors, Inc. Bryan currently serves as Executive Director of the Texas State Historical Association, Chairman of Lone Star Coastal Alliance, and on the Alamo Church Experience committee. He is a Commissioner for the Board of Galveston Pilots and is the founder of the Bryan Museum in Galveston, Texas. He is the former president of the Texas Historical Foundation, a former director of The Briscoe Museum, the Brazoria County Historical Museum, and previously served on the Remember the Alamo Foundation Board. Additionally, he is the former chairman of the Institute of Texan Cultures and was previously appointed to the THC by then-Governor George W. Bush. Bryan received a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas (UT) at Austin and a Juris Doctor degree from The UT Law School and is a graduate of the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Ashley Bowes Cash of Lubbock is a real estate and oil & gas investor with decades of experience across real estate, land development, banking, ranching, and investing. Cash currently serves her second term as a Commissioner on the Texas Governor’s Commission for Women and serves on the boards of the Texas Tech Foundation, the National Ranching Heritage Association, the Lubbock Entertainment & Performing Arts Association, the Advisory Board of the Gordon W. Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Texas Tech University, and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, and is Vice President and Director of the Cash Family Foundation. She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband, Clay, and their four children.

Tilman Fertitta of Houston is the United States Ambassador to Italy and San Marino. He is the sole owner of Fertitta Entertainment, which owns the restaurant giant Landry’s, the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casinos, and the NBA’s Houston Rockets. He served as Chairman of the Board of Regents of the University of Houston (UH) System for more than 11 years, he serves as the Chairman of the Houston Police Foundation and supported the creation of the Houston Police Department’s state-of-the-art Tactical Training Center, named in honor of his family, which provides advanced, life-saving training for law enforcement. In December 2025, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by UH.

Joe Gebbia of Austin is the U.S. Chief Design Officer (CDO), and the co-founder of Airbnb and Samara. An entrepreneur from an early age, he is obsessed with igniting new ideas. Gebbia double majored in Graphic Design and Industrial Design while studying at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and complemented his creative pursuits with business coursework at Brown University and MIT. After moving to San Francisco from Providence, RI, Airbnb’s groundbreaking service began in Gebbia’s living room in 2008. Today, Airbnb has spread to nearly 7M listings in 220+ countries, changing how people trust each other. His latest venture, Samara, comparably cemented in economic empowerment, housing resources, and design, redefines the standards of factory-made homes. Recently named the first Chief Design Officer of the United States of America, Gebbia spearheads the overhaul of government websites, aiming to improve the user experience both online and offline for Americans interfacing with their government. Gebbia has spoken globally about entrepreneurship and design at TED, Wired, Fast Company, and more. He contributes to philanthropic causes and serves on the boards of Airbnb and Tesla.

Charlotte Jones of Dallas is the Chief Brand Officer and Co-Owner of the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. Additionally, she is the president of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. She serves as chairman on the NFL Foundation, and serves on the NFL Conduct Committee, the Health and Safety Committee, and the NFL’s Legalized Sports Betting Committee. She serves as president of the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation and the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation, as Chairman of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, and as a member on the James Madison Council. Jones received a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from Stanford University.

Zachary Levi of Austin is an actor, producer, singer, and author known for his versatile performances across stage and screen. Best known for his titular role in the hit NBC series Chuck and as the lead superhero in the Shazam! franchise, Levi has also earned critical acclaim for portraying Kurt Warner in American Underdog and winning a SAG Award for his ensemble work in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. His diverse credits also include voicing Flynn Rider in Disney’s Tangled and his Tony-nominated performance in the Broadway revival of She Loves Me. Levi can next be seen starring in upcoming projects like the thriller Hotel Tehran and the western Angel and the Badman. Beyond entertainment, Levi is the author of Radical Love, which explores his journey with mental health and healing as well as creating the mental health non-profit, NerdHQ, with the primary goal of providing access to free therapy to those who can't afford it. He is currently building Wyldwood Studios, a creative campus for artists to live, work, and play.

Jack Martin of Dallas is an entrepreneur, rancher, and globally recognized strategic thought leader. Martin founded Public Strategies Incorporated (PSI), which grew into one of the most successful corporate advisory firms in the world. Under his leadership, PSI helped shape the business climate in Texas, and later globally, as an advisor to CEOs and board members. In 2006, WPP Group acquired Public Strategies and subsequently merged it with Hill & Knowlton, creating Hill+Knowlton Strategies. He was appointed Global Chairman and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies where he took his work global by leading the multinational strategic communications firm consisting of 80 offices and clients consisting of half of the 2011 Fortune Global 500. Upon stepping down as the Global Chairman and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Martin formed JPM Advisory, LLC as part of a family investment platform active in ranching, oil, and gas, consulting with select corporate clients and entrepreneurial endeavors. Currently, he serves as Chairman on the board of Baylor Scott and White Health. In 2004, First Lady Lady Bird Johnson asked Martin to serve on the board of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation, which supports the educational missions of the LBJ Presidential Library and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin. He previously chaired Texas State University (TXST) System's Board of Regents and received an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater, TXST, previously called Southwest Texas State University. Other board leadership positions have included the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Baylor College of Medicine and the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Former Texas Rangers Foundation.

T. “Justin” MacDonald of Kerrville is the president and CEO of MacDonald Companies, Inc. He is a member of the National Association of Home Builders, Texas Association of Builders, and Texas Business Leadership Council. MacDonald received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Angelo State University, a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas (UT) at San Antonio, and a Certificate in Managerial Leadership from UT Austin.

Baishali Roy, Ph.D. of Katy is a global geophysical advisor at ConocoPhillips. She is a life member of the Society of Exploration Geophysics, an honorary member of the Geophysical Society of Houston, and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, where she serves as the Fiber Optics Committee Director. Roy received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Geophysics from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and a Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics from Western University.

WHEREAS, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on July 4, 2025, as amended and renewed in subsequent proclamations, certifying that the heavy rainfall and flooding event that began on July 2, 2025, that included heavy rainfall and flash flooding, and caused widespread and severe property damage, injury, or loss of life in several counties; 

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby amend and renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster in Bandera, Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Edwards, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Maverick, McCulloch, Menard, Real, Reeves, San Saba, Schleicher, Sutton, Tom Green, Travis, Uvalde, and Williamson Counties;

Pursuant to Section 418.017 of the Texas Government Code, I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.

Pursuant to Section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended upon written approval of the Office of the Governor.  Any statutes that might prevent the transfer of bodies to families as soon as possible are hereby suspended, including Sections 264.514 and 264.515 of the Texas Family Code and Articles 49.04, 49.05, 49.10, and 49.25 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.  Further, to the extent that the enforcement of any state statute or administrative rule regarding contracting or procurement would impede any state agency’s emergency response that is necessary to protect life or property threatened by this declared disaster, I hereby authorize the suspension of such statutes and rules for the duration of this declared disaster.

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 17th day of May, 2026.

GREG ABBOTT

Governor

ATTESTED BY:

DAVID NELSON

Deputy Secretary of State

View the Governor's proclamation. 

WHEREAS, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on July 8, 2022, as amended and renewed in a number of subsequent proclamations, certifying that exceptional drought conditions posed a threat of imminent disaster in several counties; and

WHEREAS, the Texas Division of Emergency Management has confirmed that those same drought conditions persist in certain counties in Texas and that the presence of drought conditions in certain counties contributes to increased wildfire danger;

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby amend and renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster in Anderson, Andrews, Aransas, Armstrong, Atascosa, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Borden, Bowie, Brewster, Briscoe, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Camp, Carson, Cass, Castro, Childress, Clay, Cochran, Collingsworth, Comal, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Delta, DeWitt, Dickens, Dimmit, Donley, Duval, Fayette, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Gaines, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Gray, Grayson, Gregg, Guadalupe, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Hardin, Harrison, Hartley, Hays, Hemphill, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hockley, Hopkins, Howard, Hutchinson, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kent, Kerr, King, Kleberg, La Salle, Lamar, Lamb, Lavaca, Lee, Lipscomb, Live Oak, Llano, Lubbock, Lynn, Marion, Martin, Matagorda, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Midland, Moore, Morris, Motley, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Ochiltree, Oldham, Orange, Panola, Parmer, Polk, Potter, Presidio, Rains, Randall, Real, Red River, Refugio, Roberts, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Scurry, Shelby, Sherman, Smith, Starr, Stonewall, Swisher, Terry, Titus, Travis, Tyler, Upshur, Uvalde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Webb, Wharton, Wheeler, Wilbarger, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Wood, Yoakum, Zapata, and Zavala Counties.

Pursuant to Section 418.017 of the Texas Government Code, I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.

Pursuant to Section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended upon written approval of the Office of the Governor.  However, to the extent that the enforcement of any state statute or administrative rule regarding contracting or procurement would impede any state agency’s emergency response that is necessary to protect life or property threatened by this declared disaster, I hereby authorize the suspension of such statutes and rules for the duration of this declared disaster.

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 17th day of May, 2026.

GREG ABBOTT

Governor

ATTESTED BY:

DAVID NELSON

Deputy Secretary of State

View the Governor's proclamation.