Governor Gregg Abbott has renewed the disaster proclamation for Terry County and surrounding areas. Governor Abbott has decided to renew as 95 Counties are still being affected by this drought.
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller offered the following comment regarding Gov. Greg Abbott’s proclamation to renew the state of disaster designation for 95 Texas counties due to exceptional drought conditions.
“I commend Governor Abbott for his continued leadership on water issues and commitment to using all available resources to help Texans who are suffering from this extended drought. Even though our state has received welcomed rains, the drought is still causing perils for agriculture producers and citizens alike. It’s important to understand the drought is by no means over. In many areas, lake levels remain low and river flows are down.
“While the pain and damage caused by this multi-year drought cannot be overstated, our state’s farmers and ranchers stand steadfast in their commitment and fierce in their resolve to be part of Texas’ water solution. Texas agriculture matters and our industry will rebuild and continue delivering healthy food and strong fiber for all Texans.”
Governor Abbott released this statement, ” I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor 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 continue to exist in these and other counties in Texas, with the exception of Archer, Brazos, Cooke, Delta, Grayson, Jack, Lamar, Montague, Reagan, Red River, and Young counties;
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 Andrews, Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Borden, Bosque, Brazoria, Brewster, Brown, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Callahan, Cameron, Castro, Childress, Clay, Coke, Coleman, Collingsworth, Colorado, Comal, Comanche, Concho, Coryell, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Eastland, Erath, Falls, Fayette, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Frio, Gaines, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Glasscock, Gonzales, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hale, Hamilton, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Haskell, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hood, Howard, Hutchinson, Jones, Kendall, Kent, Kerr, Kimble, King, Kinney, Knox, Lampasas, Leon, Limestone, Lipscomb, Llano, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin, Mason, McCulloch, McLennan, Medina, Menard, Mills, Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, Motley, Nolan, Ochiltree, Oldham, Palo Pinto, Parker, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Real, Roberts, Runnels, Schleicher, Scurry, Shackelford, Sherman, Somervell, Stephens, Sterling, Stonewall, Swisher, Taylor, Terry, Tom Green, Travis, Uvalde, Washington, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson, Wilson, and Yoakum counties.
Pursuant to Section 418.017 of the Texas Government Code, I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.
Pursuant to Section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended upon written approval of the Office of the Governor. However, to the extent that the enforcement of any state statute or administrative rule regarding contracting or procurement would impede any state agency’s emergency response that is necessary to protect life or property threatened by this declared disaster, I hereby authorize the suspension of such statutes and rules for the duration of this declared disaster.
In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 28th day of November 2022.
