Texas faces an unprecedented year of disasters in 2025, with Governor Greg Abbott issuing multiple emergency proclamations to address wildfires, catastrophic flooding, and ongoing border security concerns across dozens of counties throughout the state.
The summer’s devastating floods have proven particularly deadly. At least 91 people have perished in the Central Texas and Hill Country floods that struck during the Fourth of July weekend, including 27 young girls from Camp Mystic, according to state officials.
Day of Prayer and Legislative Response
In response to the tragedy, Abbott declared Sunday, July 6, 2025, as a Day of Prayer for flood victims. “Texans are known for their faith, strength, and resilience,” the governor stated. “Even as floodwaters raged, neighbors rushed in to rescue, comfort, and bring hope. In times of loss, we turn to God for comfort, healing, and strength.”
Beyond prayers, the governor is pushing for concrete action. Abbott has called lawmakers back to Austin for a special legislative session beginning July 21, with a focus on flood preparedness measures, including improvements to early warning systems in vulnerable areas.
“We’re going to address every aspect of this storm to make sure we have in place the systems that are needed to prevent deadly flooding events like this in the future,” Abbott promised.
Multiple Disasters Strain Resources
How many emergencies can one state manage simultaneously? That’s the question facing Texas officials as they juggle multiple disaster declarations.
The year began with Abbott renewing a wildfire disaster proclamation on January 12, 2025, covering numerous counties including Andrews, Archer, Armstrong, Atascosa, and Bexar due to dangerous fire weather conditions. This proclamation, originally issued in October 2024, has been repeatedly extended throughout the year, most recently on December 9.
Meanwhile, the border security disaster proclamation first issued in May 2021 remains active. In this declaration, Abbott certified that “the surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas-Mexico border posed an ongoing and imminent threat” to counties along the southern border.
The flooding disaster proclamation, which has now been in effect for nearly six months, was again renewed on December 18, according to the governor’s office.
Counties Under Multiple Declarations
Several Texas counties now find themselves under multiple disaster declarations simultaneously. Bastrop, Bee, Bexar, Blanco, Bandera, and other counties appear in proclamations for wildfires, flooding, and in some cases, border security issues, creating a complex web of emergency management.
The recurring nature of these disasters has strained emergency response resources and raised questions about Texas’ preparedness for what climate scientists warn could be increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
For Texans in the hardest-hit regions, 2025 will be remembered as the year disasters came in threes – wildfires, floods, and border challenges – testing the state’s resilience and its capacity to protect its most vulnerable communities.
