Governor Abbott renews wildfire disaster proclamation for multiple Texas counties

Governor Greg Abbott has amended and renewed the wildfire disaster proclamation initially issued on February 27, 2024. The original proclamation certified that wildfires beginning on February 23, 2024, posed an imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property in several counties.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management has confirmed that similar wildfire conditions persist in these and additional counties across Texas, excluding Fannin, Gregg, Harrison, Nacogdoches, Newton, and Upshur Counties.

In accordance with Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, Governor Abbott has declared a disaster in Andrews, Archer, Armstrong, Bailey, Baylor, Borden, Brewster, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crane, Crosby, Culberson Dallam Dawson Deaf Smith Dickens Donley Ector El Paso Floyd Foard Gaines Garza Glasscock Gray Hale Hall Hansford Hardeman Hartley Haskell Hemphill Hockley Howard Hudspeth Hutchinson Jeff Davis Kent King Knox Lamb Lipscomb Loving Lubbock Lynn Martin Midland Moore Motley Ochiltree Oldham Parmer Pecos Potter Presidio Randall Reeves Roberts Sherman Stonewall Swisher Terry Throckmorton Upton Ward Wheeler Wichita Wilbarger Winkler Yoakum and Young 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."

Additionally: "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." Furthermore: "To the extent that 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."

Copies of this proclamation will be filed with applicable authorities as required by statutory requirements.

The document was signed by Governor Greg Abbott and attested by Secretary of State Jane Nelson on May 27th in Austin.