Texas Governor Deploys Resources As Hurricane Hanna Lands

AUSTIN, TX — After issuing disaster declarations for parts of the state, Gov. Greg Abbott updated the public on the government's response to Hurricane Hanna on Saturday. The hurricane made landfall at around 5 p.m. at Padre Island, Texas, weather officials reported.

Abbott detailed the state's response to the hurricane during a news conference at the Alternate State Operations Center in Austin. Before his presentation, he received a weather briefing on Hurricane Hanna from a Texas Division of Emergency Management meteorologist, he said, as well as an update on response and preparedness efforts from state agency directors and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The governor also disclosed his issuance of a disaster declaration, and a request for an Emergency Declaration from federal officials at the Federal Emergency Management Agency for so-called Public Assistance Category B (Emergency Protective Measures), Direct Federal Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

View the Governor's Disaster Declaration

View the Federal Emergency Declaration Request

“As Hurricane Hanna approaches, the Lone Star State is taking swift action to support the communities in the path of the storm,” Abbott said. “We are closely monitoring the situation and working with local officials to help ensure they have the resources they need to keep Texans safe. I urge Texans in the region to take all necessary precautions and follow the guidance of local officials. I ask our fellow Texans to keep these communities in their prayers as they brace for this storm.”

Previous coverage:

• Texans Urged To Take Caution Ahead Of Tropical Storm This Weekend
• Texas Marshals Move Resources Ahead Of Tropical Storm
• Texas Positions Resources As Tropical Storm Hanna Nears

The disaster declarations cover a large swath of Texas, including: Aransas, Bee, Bexar, Brazoria, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Dimmit, Duval, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Harris, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Matagorda, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria, Webb, Wharton, Willacy, and Zapata counties. The declaration yields an ability to waive statutes or administrative rules that may hinder the response or recovery, Abbott explained, as well as the ability to ask for federal assistance in response to Hurricane Hanna.

As the hurricane made landfall, Nueces County officials the end of Bob Hall Pier in Corpus Christi, Texas, had collapsed amid strong winds. Dramatic video showed the destruction of the pier, a longstanding favorite fishing spot in South Texas.

Watch the view from Bob Hall Pier here

In preparation for potential storm damage, the Texas Division of Emergency Management activated previously pre-positioned resources to respond to severe weather. Hurricane Hanna is forecast to make landfall as a Category 1 Hurricane.

The following resources have been activated by the emergency management agency:

• Texas A&M Forest Service: Saw crews and incident management teams.
• Texas A&M Engineering and Extension Service: Texas A&M Task Force One and two search and rescue teams.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Boat teams to support water rescue operations.
• Texas Military Department: High-profile vehicle packages.
• Department of State Health Services: Emergency medical task force severe weather packages.
• Texas Department of Transportation: High-profile vehicles.
• Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Highway Patrol: Search and rescue aircraft with hoist capability and the Tactical Marine Unit.

Texas residents are urged to follow these flood preparedness and safety tips during severe weather events:

• Know types of flood risk in your area. Visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center for information here: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home.
• Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
• Build an emergency supply kit. For more information on how to build a kit, visit Ready.gov.
• Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Create password-protected digital copies.
• Protect your property. Move valuables to higher levels. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves. Consider a sump pump with a battery.
• Be extremely cautious of any water on roads or in creeks, streams, storm drains, or other areas – never attempt to cross flowing streams or drive across flooded roadways and always observe road barricades placed for your protection. Remember, Turn Around Don’t Drown.

For more flood safety tips, visit ready.gov.