Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration covering 101 counties, including Harris County and much of Central, South and Southeast Texas, as severe storms and the threat of a Gulf tropical system raise the risk of widespread flash flooding across the state. The state has activated 24-hour operations at the Texas State Emergency Operations Center.
The storm system moved in over the weekend, beginning June 14, bringing heavy rainfall, flash flooding, hazardous wind gusts, large hail and tornado threats, and causing damage and at least one death, officials said. Forecasters warn the heaviest rain may still be ahead.
"Texas is prepared to respond to the severe weather threats that continue to move across our state," Abbott said, urging residents to monitor forecasts, gather emergency supplies, avoid flooded roadways and heed warnings from local officials.
The declaration spans counties across the Houston region — Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston and Montgomery — and the Central Texas Hill Country, including Travis, Williamson, Hays, Burnet, Blanco, Bastrop, Bell, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Llano and Gillespie. The order makes state resources available to local communities responding to the storms.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a disturbance over South Texas that forecasters say could become the first named tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Federal meteorologists warn of multiple days of heavy to "prolific" downpours across much of the South, with the potential for dangerous, rapid flooding.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management has deployed swiftwater rescue teams, high-water vehicles and helicopters to vulnerable areas. Officials emphasised that most flood deaths occur in vehicles and repeated the long-standing warning to "turn around, don’t drown" when encountering water over roadways.
The Hill Country, where steep terrain and fast-rising rivers make flooding especially deadly, is a particular concern. The region has a history of catastrophic flash floods, and authorities urged residents near creeks and low-lying areas to be ready to move to higher ground quickly.
The flood threat coincides with World Cup festivities in Houston, where road closures and crowds have already strained parts of the city. Forecasters said the situation could evolve rapidly over the coming days as the Gulf system develops.