Governor Greg Abbott has issued a Disaster Declaration for multiple counties in Texas, including Potter and Randall Counties, due to the ongoing drought in the area.
On Friday, Abbott issued a State Disaster Declaration for counties affected by the ongoing drought and wildfire conditions in Texas. According to the Declaration, the conditions pose immediate threat to public health, property and the economy. In issuing the Declaration, Abbott is authorizing the use of all state resources to address the situation.
"I want to assure the citizens of Texas that we will do all we can to respond to this threat and ensure their safety and the protection of their property," Abbott said in a statement. "I encourage those in these counties to heed the warnings of local officials and do all they can to stay out of harm's way. Texas is no stranger to wildfires, and will be prepared to respond as needed."
In addition, the Declaration suspends any laws or regulations preventing or delaying action in responding to the disaster. The Declaration also suspends any law that would impede a state agency's ability to respond to the disaster.
The following counties are included in the Declaration: Armstrong, Andrews, Archer, Bastrop, Baylor, Bell, Bosque, Briscoe, Burnet, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Coryell, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Erath, Falls, Floyd, Foard, Gaines, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hamilton, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Haskell, Hemphill, Hill, Hutchinson, Johnson, Kent, King, Knox, Lee, Limestone, Lipscomb, Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, McLennan, Milam, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Robertson, Shackelford, Sherman, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Swisher, Throckmorton, Travis, Wheeler, Wilbarger, Williamson, Winkler, Yoakum, and Young.
For more information, please visit gov.texas.gov.
