Texas Prepares for 2026 Winter Storm: Disaster Declaration and Safety Measures

Winter Storm Preparedness and Disaster Declaration

• ⚠️ Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration covering 134 Texas counties in anticipation of a severe winter weather storm.
• ❄️ The storm is expected to worsen from Friday through the weekend, bringing ultra-cold temperatures and hazardous precipitation.
• 🗓️ Texans are urged to prepare immediately, as waiting until later will be too late to secure homes, offices, children, and pets.

Road Safety and Transportation Measures

• 🚗 The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is preparing roadways by layering them with elements to prevent freezing and ensure safer driving.
• 🌨️ Drivers are strongly encouraged to stay off the roads if possible, especially in areas with ultra-cold temperatures and precipitation, to avoid accidents on icy surfaces.
• 🚚 Road plows will be in operation; drivers are asked to travel slowly and cautiously around them and not interfere with their work.

Power Grid Reliability and Local Outages

• ⚡ The Texas power grid is stated to be stronger and more prepared than ever, with no expectation of widespread power loss from the grid itself.
• 🏠 Localized power outages may occur due to ice weighing down power lines from poles to homes, which is a local provider issue, not a grid issue.
• 🛠️ Local power providers are prepared with personnel and equipment to quickly restore power if local lines go down, supported by vegetation management and pole replacement efforts.
• ⛽ Generators have additional sources of fuel, including an abundance of natural gas, ensuring no fuel shortages for power generation.

Emergency Response and Resources

• 🆘 The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas National Guard have extra crews and personnel deployed to respond to accidents, rescue stranded motorists, and deliver essential supplies like water and food.
• 🏠 Over 280 warming centers are available across the state, providing resources, food, water, and shelter.
• 🚒 Safety messages emphasize protecting people, pets, pipes, and plants, alongside warnings about space heater safety and carbon monoxide poisoning from generators and gas appliances.

Lessons Learned Since Winter Storm Uri

• 📈 Significant investments and legislative changes since 2021 have improved the power grid's reliability and capacity, with over 40,000 megawatts of additional power added.
• 🔍 Weatherization program inspections have been conducted on thousands of power generating and transmission facilities to ensure they can withstand extreme cold.
• 🔋 New systems like real-time co-optimization plus batteries are in place to optimize grid resources more efficiently.
• ⚠️ While the current storm is not expected to be as severe or long-lasting as Winter Storm Uri, officials stress the importance of taking it seriously and preparing for potential localized outages.