Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has expanded the state’s disaster declaration to include a staggering 219 counties — more than 86% of the state — as Winter Storm Fern continues to pummel the Lone Star State with freezing temperatures, icy conditions, and widespread power outages.
The amendment, which added 85 counties to the original declaration, comes as more than 83,000 Texans find themselves without power, primarily in the eastern regions of the state. The governor emphasized the widespread impact of the severe weather event that has left communities scrambling to respond.
“Communities across the state have been impacted by this weekend’s winter weather,” Abbott said in a statement. “I am updating my disaster declaration to include additional counties to help more Texans during these freezing temperatures.”
Massive Response Effort Underway
The state has mobilized an extraordinary response effort, deploying more than 10,900 emergency personnel, 4,900 vehicles and equipment, and staff from over 15 agencies across affected regions. Perhaps most critically, authorities have established more than 375 warming centers for those without heat, as reported by local media.
How bad is it? Bad enough that local officials across the state have been issuing their own emergency declarations. Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel declared a local disaster on January 24, citing the imminent threat of freezing rain, sleet, snow, and winds exceeding 30 MPH from the winter storm. Similar declarations have emerged from Princeton and Odessa, where officials warned of “imminent threat of widespread damage” from prolonged freezing temperatures.
The Houston metro area, Texas’ most populous region, hadn’t been included in the initial declaration but is now covered. Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston, Austin, and Brazoria counties were all added in the latest amendment, ensuring faster resource deployment to these heavily populated areas.
“Whenever we go through any type of disaster, job number one is always protecting lives,” Abbott emphasized during a recent press briefing.
Not Out of the Woods
The expanded declaration isn’t just bureaucratic paperwork — it’s a crucial mechanism that removes red tape and accelerates the delivery of emergency resources to communities in need. For residents in the 219 counties now covered by the disaster declaration, this means faster access to state assistance during what has become one of the most widespread winter weather events in recent Texas history.
The governor urged Texans to remain vigilant as the situation continues to evolve. “Texans should continue to monitor local weather forecasts and road conditions to keep themselves and their families safe,” he advised, while also expressing gratitude to emergency officials “working around the clock to help Texans across the state recover from this winter storm.”
Still, for many Texans, the current situation brings back uncomfortable memories of previous winter storms that left millions without power for extended periods. The state’s power grid, which operates largely independently from the rest of the country, faces another significant test as temperatures remain below freezing in many areas.
As Winter Storm Fern continues its slow march across Texas, the race between falling temperatures and emergency response efforts remains the primary concern for millions of residents bundling up and hoping their lights stay on.
