Governor Abbott Provides Update On Texas' Response To Hill Country Flooding

Governor Greg Abbott today held a press conference with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to provide an update on the ongoing response to severe flooding impacting the Texas Hill Country. The Governor also expanded the number of counties included in his disaster declaration and requested a federal disaster declaration.

"When Texans face a challenge, we come together, we unite, and that's exactly what's happened over the past twenty-four to forty-eight hours in this community," said Governor Abbott. "We will be relentless in going after and ensuring that we locate every single person who's been a victim of this flooding event. We're not going to stop today or tomorrow. This is a 24/7 operation, looking for Texans and Americans. They are our top priority and we will find every one of them."

Watch the Governor's full press conference here. 

The Governor was also joined by U.S. Senator John Cornyn, U.S. Congressman Chip Roy, Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd, Adjutant General of Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer, Texas Department of Public Safety Colonel Freeman Martin and other local officials.

Following the press conference, Governor Abbott and Secretary Noem surveyed damage at Camp Mystic and visited with camp leadership. 

The State of Texas has deployed more than 1,300 personnel, and more than 900 vehicles and equipment assets. More than 15 state agencies are currently responding to flooding threats across the state.

The counties included in Governor Abbott’s expanded Disaster Declaration include Bexar,  Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis, and Williamson. The counties in the Governor's original declaration include Bandera, Coke, Comal, Concho, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reeves, San Saba, and Tom Green.

Governor Abbott continues to take action to provide all necessary resources to local officials as they continue to respond to flooding impacting Texas, including: 

• Providing an update yesterday on the state’s response to severe flooding in Kerr County and surrounding communities
• Increasing the readiness level of the Texas State Emergency Operations Center (SOC) to Level II (Escalated Response) and activating additional state emergency response resources as portions of West and Central Texas prepared for heavy rainfall and flash flooding threats.
• Deploying state emergency response resources ahead of the rain and flooding threat.

Texans are encouraged to follow instructions from local officials and can find flood resources online in the Texas Disaster Portal at disaster.texas.gov.