Governor Greg Abbott has amended and renewed a disaster proclamation concerning ongoing drought conditions in Texas. The original proclamation was issued on July 8, 2022, and has been updated several times since then.
According to the Texas Division of Emergency Management, exceptional drought conditions continue to affect certain counties across the state. As a result, Governor Abbott has declared a disaster in the following counties: Aransas, Atascosa, Bandera, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Brewster, Burnet, Cameron, Clay, Collingsworth, Comanche, Culberson, Donley, Edwards, El Paso, Foard, Frio, Gillespie, Grayson, Hall, Hamilton, Hardeman, Hays, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, Kleberg, Live Oak, Lubbock, Matagorda, McMullen,, Medina,, Midland,, Nueces,, Pecos,, Presidio,, Real,, San Patricio,, Terrell,, Travis,, Uvalde,, Val Verde,, Victoria,, Wharton,, Willacy,, Wilson,, and Zapata Counties.
In his official statement Governor Abbott said: “WHEREAS I,GREG ABBOTT,Govemor of the State of Texas issued a disaster proclamation on July 8 2022 as amended and renewed in a number of subsequent proclamations certifying that exceptional drought conditions posed a threat of imminent disaster in several counties; and WHEREAS,the Texas Division of Emergency Management has confirmed that those same drought conditions persist in certain counties in Texas; NOW THEREFORE,in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code,I do hereby amend and renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster in Aransas Atascosa Bandera Bastrop Bee Bell Bexar Blanco Brewster Burnet Cameron Clay Collingsworth Comanche Culberson Donley Edwards El Paso Foard Frio Gillespie Grayson Hall Hamilton Hardeman Hays Hidalgo Hudspeth Jeff Davis Jim Wells Karnes Kendall Kerr Kinney Kleberg Live Oak Lubbock Matagorda McMullen Medina Midland Nueces Pecos Presidio Real San Patricio Terrell Travis Uvalde Val Verde Victoria Wharton Willacy Wilson and Zapata Counties.”
The Governor authorized all available resources from state government and political subdivisions to address the effects of this disaster. He also suspended any regulatory statutes or rules that might delay necessary actions during this emergency period upon written approval from his office. Additionally,suspension of procurement or contracting rules is permitted if they impede emergency response needed to protect life or property.
Copies of this proclamation have been filed with relevant authorities as required by law.
