Governor Greg Abbott is warning Texans of heavy rain and flash flooding from late Wednesday through Thursday and says nearly 2,000 state responders are already in place.
The governor’s office said Abbott held a briefing Monday at the State Emergency Operations Center and directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to add resources. More than 1,900 state responders and more than 1,500 pieces of equipment are available, including swift-water teams, high-water vehicles, boats and helicopters. The Texas National Guard is activating more than 100 personnel, with hundreds more on standby. The operations center is running around the clock.
“I have activated additional state emergency response resources ahead of heavy rainfall and flash flooding,” Abbott said. “State resources are available to support local officials. Texans should monitor local forecasts, avoid flooded roadways, and heed guidance from state and local officials. Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown.”
The National Weather Service says tropical moisture from Hurricane Polo and an approaching front will spread thunderstorms across much of Texas. Rain begins in Far West Texas and the Panhandle first, then moves into North and Central Texas by midweek. FOX 4 reports the main threat for the Dallas-Fort Worth area is late Wednesday into Thursday. Abbott said a stalling front could dump 10 inches or more in some places, and locally even higher if the rain repeats over the same ground.
TxDOT is staging barricades and message boards. Officials say six inches of moving water can sweep a car off the road. Drought-hardened soil can also shed rain quickly, raising the flash-flood risk even where totals look modest on a map.
No storm-related deaths or injuries have been tied to this system in North Texas as of early Tuesday. State leaders say the goal is to have crews in position before water covers roads. Residents are asked to watch local forecasts, move cars out of low spots, and never drive around barricades.
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