Gov Abbott Sends National Guard To Help Texans Affected by Bad Winter Weather

On Monday, Gov Greg Abbott announced that the state of Texas is deploying maximum resources to the local officials respond to the extreme winter weather and to restore power to areas that have been experiencing outages for hours and even days.

That includes deploying the National Guard across Texas to conduct welfare checks and to assist local agencies that are working to get Texans in need to warming centers that have been established.

Warming stations have been set up in Temple, Killeen, and Copperas Cove.

KTRK-TV reports that Abbott also directed state agencies to send resources and personnel to help local officials clear roadways and assist essential workers like healthcare professionals and power grid workers so they can carry out their duties.

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Abbott stated, “Due to the severe weather and freezing temperatures across our state, many power companies have been unable to generate power, whether it’s from coal, natural gas, or wind power. ERCOT and the PUC are working non-stop to restore power supply. The state has also deployed resources to assist Texans without power and to help essential workers continue to carry out their jobs. In the meantime, I encourage all Texans to continue to stay off the roads, and conserve energy as state agencies work with private providers to restore power as quickly as possible.”

According to the governor's office, the following resources have been deployed:

• Texas Department of Public Safety: 3,300 Troopers and 3,300 patrol vehicles responding statewide to events in areas adversely affected by winter weather
• Texas Military Department: 6 Winter Weather Packages consisting of 90 personnel, 28 High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicles, 1 Field Light Ambulance, and 4 Wreckers
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: 585 personnel, 531 4x4 vehicles, 50 UAS, 1 aircraft and 9 K9 teams
• Texas A&M Forest Service: 83 personnel, 6 Motor Graders, and 58 4x4’s
• Texas Department of Transportation: 2,314 personnel, 695 snowplows, 188 loaders, 55 Motor Graders and 757 4x4 vehicles
• Texas Emergency Medical Task Force: 1 AMBUS and 1 Ambulance Strike Team and 4 Severe Weather Packages consisting of 1 Task Force Leader, 1 MIST,1 AMBUS and 1 Ambulance Strike Team each on stand-by

The record low of 23 degrees below zero occurred in February 1899 in Tulia (pop. 5,117) and in February 1933 in Seminole (pop. 5,910). even though we didn't reach the record we did wake up to single digit temperature.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone effected by this winter storm.