Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
Friday, January 26, 2024 Page 1
Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
New Information in Blue Text
Event Name
24-0004 21JAN Severe Weather
Date
January 26, 2024
Time
10:00 AM
Operational Period
8:00 AM January 25 to 8:00 AM January 26, 2024
Report Number
4
Regions Affected
TDEM Regions Affected
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
DDs Active
5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22
STATEWIDE CURRENT SITUATION: On January 25, The Texas Division of
Emergency Management (TDEM) provided an update on Texas' response to
excessive rainfall and flooding in Central, East, and Southeast Texas. TDEM also
urged Texans to report property damage by submitting an online damage
assessment survey.
Texans can report weather damage to homes and businesses using the Individual
State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) damage survey. The iSTAT damage survey
can be filled out in English and Spanish online by visiting damage.tdem.texas.gov
and clicking on “January 21st - Ongoing Flooding Event.” The details provided to
TDEM in the iSTAT damage survey help emergency management officials gain an
understanding of damages that have occurred and identify any immediate resource
needs. Survey information also aids officials in determining whether the state
meets federal requirements for various forms of disaster assistance.
Reporting damage through the iSTAT tool is a voluntary activity and is not a
substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency. It does not guarantee
disaster relief assistance. English and Spanish tutorial videos explaining how to fill
out iSTAT surveys are available at https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/ .
Texans are encouraged to remain prepared and informed, continue to monitor local
weather reports, and follow instructions from local officials. Texans can access
additional flood safety information by visiting www.TexasReady.gov .
Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
Friday, January 26, 2024 Page 2
While the bulk of the forecasted rain has ended, runoff is expected to continue to
create moderate-to-major flood stages across Texas rivers, which could impact
Texas communities and property owners. To view the latest flood gauge data visit
www.TexasFlood.org .
NWS Flood Gauges: as of 4:30AM January 26.
River Flooding:
Major flood stage is being reported along the West Fork of the San Jacinto River
near Conroe in Montgomery County, which has crested and is now receding.
Moderate flood stage is being reported along the Brazos, Guadalupe, Navidad,
Neches, San Bernard, San Jacinto, and Trinity Rivers.
Minor flood stage is being reported along the Angelina, Guadalupe, Lavaca,
Navidad, Neches, Sabine, San Bernard, San Jacinto, Sulfur, and the Tres Palacios
Rivers.
OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES:
1. Protect life and property.
2. Support rapid & effective response.
3. Collect and disseminate accurate incident information to improve decision-
making.
4. Accurately track incident costs associated with assigned resources for
cost recovery.
Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
Friday, January 26, 2024 Page 3
Region 3 (Includes DDs 5, 6, 14, and 15)
DD 14 – Lufkin (Includes Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk,
Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, and Tyler Counties)
Polk County: The Polk County EOC is at Level III. On January 24, the Polk County
Judge issued a voluntary evacuation order for the low-lying areas along the Trinity
River below Lake Livingston Dam. Locally heavy rainfall along with the increase in
discharge from the dam could impact areas below the dam including roadways,
impeding ingress and egress into subdivisions and residential areas.
Polk County is urging citizens in these areas to take precautions.
Region 4 (Includes DD 16)
DD 16 – Houston (Includes Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend,
Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton
Counties)
Harris County: The County has activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to
Level III (Increased Readiness Conditions).
Liberty County issued a mandatory evacuation order on January 25 for the East
Fork RV Resort in Cleveland. A shelter was activated at the Plum Grove Assembly of
God Church in Splendora
Montgomery County: The County has increased its EOC to Level I (Emergency
Conditions). Montgomery County Judge issued a Disaster Declaration on January
25. Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is reporting water
over several roads and bridges in the county.
The Lake Conroe discharge rate was increased from 3,000 cubic feet per second
(cfs) to 19,435 cfs which caused an influx of water into the area. Peach Creek,
Caney Creek, and the East Fork of the San Jacinto River will be causing low land
flooding. Areas potentially impacted include Plum Grove, Wood Branch Village,
River Club Estates, and several other areas as the San Jacinto River continues to
swell.
As of 9:30 AM on January 25, the shelter at 2500 Lone Star Parkway in
Montgomery remains open with no impacted residents being sheltered by the
American Red Cross.
As of 11:00 PM on January 25, the San Jacinto River has crested at Interstate
Highway (IH)-45 in Major Flood Stage and has started to recede.
Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
Friday, January 26, 2024 Page 4
Region 6 (Includes DDs 17, 18, and 24)
DD 17 – Victoria (Includes Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Lavaca, Jackson,
and Victoria Counties)
DeWitt County: The city of Yorktown is reporting 8
th
and 12
th
Streets closed due to
high water. A few other low-water crossings continue to have water over the
roadways but are passable.
Lavaca County: The County OEM continues to report road closures due to flooding,
also including some streets in the city of Hallettsville.
Region 8 (Includes DDs 11,12, 13 and 23)
DD 12 – Austin (Includes Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee,
Llano, Travis, and Williamson Counties)
Fayette County: As of 4:00 PM on January 24 Texas DPS reported a water rescue
off Josie Lane with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Game Wardens. A
man capsized his boat and was clinging to a tree.
RESPONDING STATE AGENCIES/ORGANIZATIONS REPORTS
Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas A&M University System
(TDEM):
TDEM Mass Care: Mass Care was activated at the SOC.
Sheltering: Overnight, the American Red Cross had 3 shelters open in both Polk
and Montgomery Counties. The San Jacinto County Disaster Center, in Polk County,
reported 13 occupants overnight. Dunbar Gym (Closed) in Polk County and Lone
Star Convention Center in Montgomery County reported 0 occupants overnight.
The state and VOAD partners remain on standby ready to support Mass Care
services at the local level.
The Incident Support Task Force (ISTF) is also activated at the SOC with two
personnel. HQ and regional staff are actively assessing the weather and
communicating with locals for any unmet needs.
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) / Texas A&M Public
Works Response Team (TX-PWRT): Beginning at 2:00 PM on January 25, the
TX-PWRT Liaison will support and coordinate operations remotely. Standing by and
monitoring WebEOC to fulfill any STAR requests for service. Strike teams are
rostered, and availability is noted.
Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
Friday, January 26, 2024 Page 5
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) Texas Task Force 1 & 2
(TX-TF1 / TX-TF2): TEEX activated ten TX-TF1 Type III Swift Water Boat Squads,
two high-profile vehicles (HPV), and two water group supervisors.
On January 24, to support TMD GTP High Profile Vehicles, TX-TF2 activated two
Water Mission Ready Packages (MRPs), and TX-TF1 Region 3 activated a flood boat
squad.
On January 24, TX-TF1 personnel assisted local resources throughout the state,
including the evacuation of 1 adult and 2 pets from a flooded home in TDEM Region
4. There are currently 130 personnel assigned to support this activation.
On January 25, there were two vehicle rescues reported in Cleveland, Liberty
County. The rescues were conducted on County Road 3812 and Farm to Market
Road 1725.
Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
Friday, January 26, 2024 Page 6
Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS): TXDPS is coordinating with TX-
TF1 and TMD for aviation and marine unit response.
TXDPS Aviation Operations Division (AOD) has three H-125 hoist-equipped
helicopters stationed in Houston, San Antonio, and Edinburg are ready for
immediate response.
The Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Tactical Marine Unit (TMU) has flat bottom boats
available in the following counties: three in Hidalgo County, one in Aransas County,
one in Victoria County, one in Galveston County, three in Montgomery County, one
in McLennan County, and one in Medina County.
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS): DSHS has assigned two
LNO to the SOC. The Texas Emergency Medical Task Force (EMTF):
• EMTF maintaining awareness:
o EMTF 4 (East Texas)
o EMTF 6 (Southeast Texas)
• EMTF Regional and Local Response Staged:
o One AMBUS (Montgomery)
Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
Friday, January 26, 2024 Page 7
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT): TxDOT SOC Liaison and the
EMC have been staffing the SOC since January 22.
▪ TxDOT is under normal operations with local shift work in impacted counties due
to high water and flooding.
▪ TxDOT emergency management staff continue to support the SOC.
▪ Several TxDOT districts in the East and Southeast parts of the state had isolated
reports of 10 - 12” of rain.
▪ Local crews monitored roads and flood prone areas overnight Wednesday into
Thursday morning and assisted law enforcement with several accidents.
▪ Local crews continued to patrol roadways and inspect bridges and culverts
across the East and Southeast, Thursday.
▪ A tractor-trailer carrying car engines was involved in a rollover which resulted in
a HAZMAT spill and damaged the bridge rail and main lane bridge over FM 725.
TCEQ and FHWA were notified and TxDOT San Antonio maintenance, bridge, and
HAZMAT crews were all onsite. The Bridge Crew performed temporary repairs
and are currently evaluating additional work needed. IH-10 westbound lanes
reopened Thursday morning.
▪ FM 1791 and FM 39 east of Madisonville in the Bryan District are closed due to
damage sustained from this weather event and will remain closed until repairs
can be made.
▪ (5) HPV and (5) 2-person teams are in Bryan District; 10 additional HPVs are
available if needed. (5-Austin; 5-Dallas)
Reminder: Do not attempt to go around road barriers. If a road is flooded, ‘Turn
Around Don’t Drown.’
TxDOT is reporting roadways affected by high water due to flooding: As of 4:30 AM
on January 26. (www.drivetexas.org )
Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
Friday, January 26, 2024 Page 8
Texas Military Department (TMD): TMD has activated one SOC Support Team at
the SOC and three Ground Transportation Platoons to support TX-TF1. TMD has
activated 48 personnel, 15 vehicles, and three aircraft. Units are staged in
Huntsville, Liberty, and Victoria. Rotary Wing Aircraft, while conducting
reconnaissance operations in support of TX-TF1 assisted with the rescue of 1 adult
and 2 pets near Coldspring, Texas.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD): TPWD continues to have Texas
Game Wardens and State Park Police Officers prepared to respond to areas affected
by the severe weather event and support boat rescue or evacuation operations as
needed. Also, TPWD personnel are continuing to be advised of the current weather
conditions and are maintaining a state of readiness.
Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
Friday, January 26, 2024 Page 9
TPWD has activated four swift water rescue (SWR) boat teams in Central and East
Texas.
Caddo Lake and Palmetto State Parks have closed areas due to flooding. Brazos
Bend State Park is preparing for minor flooding.
TPWD SAR crews and field personnel have assisted with several incidents and
rescues in the affected areas of the state.
STATE RESOURCES COMMITTED
Agency
Resource Kind
and Type
Personnel
Equip
Status
Location
TDEM
ESF 6 Liaison
1
0
Assigned
Austin
TDEM
ISTF HQ Staff
2
0
Assigned
Austin
TDEM
VOAD
1
0
Assigned
Virtual
TEEX
PWRT
SOC Liaison
Remote
1
1
Assigned
College Station
TEEX
PWRT
PWRT Strike
Teams
16
0
Available
Statewide
TEEX
TX-TF1
Swift Water Boat
Squad
6
2
Released
Travis County
TEEX
TX-TF1
Swift Water Boat
Squad
6
2
Released
Bexar County
TEEX
TX-TF1
Swift Water Boat
Squad
6
2
Assigned
Nacogdoches
County
TEEX
TX-TF1
Swift Water Boat
Squad
6
2
Assigned
San Jacinto
County
TEEX
TX-TF1
Swift Water Boat
Squad
6
2
Assigned
Jasper County
TEEX
TX-TF1
Swift Water Boat
Squad
6
2
Assigned
Angelina County
TEEX
TX-TF1
Swift Water Boat
Squad
6
2
Assigned
Washington
County
TEEX
TX-TF1
Swift Water Boat
Squad
6
2
Assigned
Austin County
TEEX
TX-TF1
Swift Water Boat
Squad
6
2
Assigned
Liberty County
TEEX
TX-TF1
Swift Water Boat
Squad
6
2
Assigned
Walker County
TEEX
TX-TF1
Water Group
Supervisor
2
1
Assigned
TDEM Region 4
TEEX
TX-TF1
Water Group
Supervisor
2
1
Assigned
TDEM Region 6
Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
Friday, January 26, 2024 Page 10
Agency
Resource Kind
and Type
Personnel
Equip
Status
Location
TEEX
TX-TF1
HPV
7
2
Assigned
San Jacinto
County
TEEX
TX-TF1
ESF 9 Overhead
4
0
Assigned
Brazos County
TEEX
TX-TF1
ESF 9 SOC LNO
1
0
Assigned
Austin
TEEX
TX-TF1
TX-TF1 Rescue
Swimmers
3
0
Assigned
Travis County
TEEX
TX-TF1
TX-TF1 Rescue
Swimmers
2
0
Assigned
Bexar County
TEEX
TX-TF1
HSART Manager
1
0
Assigned
Brazos County
TEEX
TX-TF1
TX-TF2 Water
MRP
18
3
Assigned
Walker County
TEEX
TX-TF1
TX-TF2 Water
MRP
17
4
Assigned
Victoria County
TEEX
TX-TF1
TX-TF1 Region 3
Flood Boats
6
3
Assigned
Victoria County
DSHS
SOC LNO
2
0
Assigned
Austin
TXDPS
SOC Liaison
2
2
Assigned
Austin
TXDPS
Helicopter
w/hoist
9
3
Activated
Houston, San
Antonio, Edinburg
TXDPS
Flat Bottom
Boats
22
11
Activated
Hidalgo,
Cameron,
Aransas, Victoria,
Galveston,
Montgomery,
McLennan,
Medina
TxDOT
EMC
1
0
Assigned
Austin
TxDOT
SOC LNO
1
0
Assigned
Austin
TMD
SOC MRP
6
0
Assigned
Austin
TMD
Ground
Transportation
Platoon
10
5
Activated
Victoria
TMD
Ground
Transportation
Platoon
10
5
Activated
Huntsville
TMD
Ground
Transportation
Platoon
10
5
Activated
Liberty
TMD
1.5 Rotary Wing
11
3
Activated
Austin/San
Antonio
TMD
Air Ops Support
1
0
Activated
Austin
Texas Division of Emergency Management
State Situation Report
Friday, January 26, 2024 Page 11
Agency
Resource Kind
and Type
Personnel
Equip
Status
Location
TPWD
SOC Liason
2
2
Assigned
Austin
TPWD
Game Warden
SAR
14
21
Available
TPWD Regions
2,3,4,7,8
TPWD
Game Wardens-
State Park Police
270
270
Available
TPWD Regions
2,3,4,7,8
TPWD
Swift Water
Boats / Airboats
48
Available
TPWD Regions
2,3,4,7,8
FINAL COMMENTS: On January 22, at 12:00 PM, the SOC increased the activation
level to Level II (Escalated Response Conditions) in response to the heavy rainfall
and flash flooding threats for this week. The SOC will continue to provide situation
reports as needed.
The four levels of SOC activation are:
Level I (Emergency Conditions)
Level II (Escalated Response Conditions)
Level III (Increased Readiness Conditions)
Level IV (Normal Conditions)
This Situation Report can be found on the TDEM webpage at:
https://tdem.texas.gov/response/state-operations-center#tab-3
W. Nim Kidd, MPA, CEM
Chief – Texas Division of Emergency Management
Vice Chancellor for Disaster and Emergency Services
Texas A&M University System
https://tdem.texas.gov/
Twitter: @TDEM
(512) 424-2208 (24/7)
