Abbott said he directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate emergency response resources consisting of search and rescue teams, helicopters, ambulances and more before the storms reach the state in the afternoon. The storms could come with flash flooding, tornadoes, winds over 75 mph and 2-inch hail or larger, Abbott said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTexas is prepared to confront the severe storms that pose a threat to communities all across our state,” he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The storms are expected to weaken by the time they reach Houston but could still produce hail and damaging winds. Chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms were set to reach 50% in Houston between 11 p.m. Sunday and 3 a.m. Monday.<\/p>\n
“Areas of concern”\u00a0include West, North, East, Central and South Central Texas, said Abbott, adding that storms could affect South and Southeast Texas as the storm approaches the coast.<\/p>\n
The emergency response teams Abbott activated total 11 agencies \u2014 the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, the state Division of Emergency Management, Department of Transportation, Texas A&M Forest Service, Parks and Wildlife Department, Department of Public Safety,\u00a0 Department of State Health Services, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Public Utility Commission, Railroad Commission and Commission on Environmental Quality.<\/p>\n