39 Texas emergency agencies to prepare for Hurricane Beryl response, recovery efforts

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is directing 39 Texas Emergency Management Council agencies to begin preparations to aid in hurricane response and recovery work, he announced in a release Wednesday.

Alongside those preparations, Abbott is requesting teams develop around-the-clock staffing plans for the State Emergency Operations Center, in the event Hurricane Beryl hits the Texas Gulf Coast, the release added.

As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, Hurricane Beryl was classified as a Category 4, down from the Category 5 designation it reached on Monday. The National Hurricane Center has forecasted the storm will weaken while continuing on its west-northwest path through the Caribbean before eventually hitting the Gulf of Mexico this weekend, the release said.

"Texas stands ready to deploy all available resources and support to our coastal communities as Hurricane Beryl approaches the state," Abbott said in the release. "Today, I directed TDEM to issue an advisory notice to our emergency management agencies to ensure Texas is prepared and equipped for hurricane response and recovery efforts. As Texans around the south coastal areas make holiday plans and visitors begin to travel for the holiday weekend, I urge them to take necessary safety precautions, remain weather aware, and have an emergency plan ready for themselves and their families. State and local officials will continue to work around-the-clock to monitor statewide weather conditions and help protect Texans."

The participating agencies include:

• Texas Division of Emergency Management
• Texas A&M University System
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service – Texas A&M Task Force 1
• Texas A&M Forest Service
• Texas Military Department – Texas National Guard
• Texas Department of Public Safety
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Texas Department of Transportation
• Public Utility Commission of Texas
• Railroad Commission of TexasTexas Commission on Environmental Quality
• Texas Animal Health Commission
• State Comptroller of Public Accounts
• Texas Commission on Fire Protection
• Texas Department of Agriculture
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice
• Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
• Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
• Texas Department of Information Resources
• Texas Department of Insurance
• Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
• Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
• Texas Department of State Health Services
• Texas Education Agency
• Texas Facilities Commission
• Texas General Land Office
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission
• Texas Office of the Attorney General
• Texas State Auditor’s Office
• Texas Workforce Commission
• Texas State University System
• Texas Tech University System
• University of Houston System
• University of North Texas System
• University of Texas System
• Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
• The Salvation Army
• The American Red Cross

More storm information is available on the Texas Division of Emergency Management's disaster portal as well as the Texas Hurricane Center webpage. Details on storm preparedness are offered online.