Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Winter Storm Preparedness Update

Disaster Declaration and Preparation

• 🚨 Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration covering 134 Texas counties in anticipation of a severe winter storm.
• 🗓️ Texans are urged to prepare immediately, emphasizing that waiting until the last minute will be too late.
• 🗺️ The top two-thirds of the state, from San Antonio to the Panhandle, are expected to be the most severely impacted.

Road Safety and Transportation

• 🚗 Driving on icy roads is extremely dangerous and can lead to loss of control and accidents.
• 🛣️ The Texas Department of Transportation is pre-treating roadways with a brine solution to help mitigate freezing.
• 🚛 Motorists are advised to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary and to drive cautiously around road plows.
• 🎒 Emergency kits with fuel, food, water, and blankets are recommended for those who must travel.

Power Grid Reliability and Local Outages

• ⚡ The state's power grid is stronger and more prepared than ever, with no expectation of widespread grid failure.
• 💡 Local power providers are also better prepared, with improved vegetation management and stronger poles.
• ⚠️ Localized power outages may still occur due to ice weighing down lines from poles to homes or trees falling on lines, which is a local provider issue, not a grid issue.
• ⛽ There are no concerns about fuel shortages for power generation, with abundant natural gas supplies available.

Emergency Response and Resources

• 🆘 The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard are deploying extra crews for rescue operations and to assist stranded motorists.
• 🍲 The National Guard will also help deliver water and food to those in need and support warming centers across the state.
• 🏠 Over 280 warming centers are available, with more ready to open if needed, providing resources and shelter.

Lessons Learned and Future Preparedness

• 📈 Historic investments have been made in weatherization and grid improvements since 2021, significantly enhancing reliability.
• 🔋 New systems, like real-time co-optimization with batteries, are optimizing grid resources more efficiently.
• ⚠️ While this storm is not expected to be as severe as Winter Storm Uri, Texans are urged to take it seriously and prepare for potential localized outages.
• 🏠 Families are encouraged to have a plan, an emergency kit, and to be aware of space heater and carbon monoxide safety.