All articles tagged with #emergency management
DEMA downgraded Kent and Sussex counties to Level 2 Driving Restrictions and kept New Castle County at Level 1 Driving Warning as storm recovery continues. Snow removal and power-restoration efforts are ongoing; shelters are open in Dover and Georgetown, and National Guard support remains in place while residents are urged to avoid nonessential travel.
Delaware issues a statewide Level 1 Driving Warning and declares a State of Emergency as a major winter storm approaches, with the National Guard activated for response and Code Purple shelters opened statewide to provide emergency housing and resources.
Sussex County, Delaware, remains under a Level 3 Driving Ban as a winter storm leaves roads impassable. The ban restricts driving to first responders, essential personnel, and certain utilities/snow-removal operators, with shelter-in-place advised for others. This update accompanies concurrent driving restrictions in Kent (Level 3) and New Castle (Level 2) counties and ongoing emergency management coordination.
Delaware downgraded Kent and New Castle Counties from Level 2 Driving Restrictions to Level 1 Driving Warnings, and lifted Sussex County’s Level 1 warning as Winter Storm Fern moves toward sleet and freezing rain; temperatures will stay below freezing, and motorists are urged to travel only for essential needs with extreme caution while DelDOT works to clear roads. Code Purple shelters remain open, and residents should monitor DelDOT updates and use emergency resources as needed.
Governor Meyer declared a State of Emergency and activated DEMA as Delaware issues a statewide Level 1 Driving Warning at 12:01 a.m. for a major winter storm; a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect, 24-hour Code Purple shelters are open statewide, and 211 is available for assistance as National Guard deployment and DelDOT snow-removal operations get underway. Residents are urged to stay off the roads and prepare at home.
Gov. Greg Abbott declared a disaster for 134 Texas counties to speed resources as a severe winter storm is expected; the state activated Level II emergency operations and the Texas DPS granted a five-day waiver for essential goods deliveries, with no Houston-area counties listed initially and residents urged to prepare and limit travel amid freezing conditions, snow, sleet, and ice.
Gov. Brian Kemp declared a statewide State of Emergency and activated the State Operations Center ahead of Winter Storm Fern, with the order running through January 29, 2026. The move mobilizes resources, allows up to 500 National Guard troops if needed, and suspends certain rules for emergency response (including hours-of-service for commercial drivers and price gouging bans). GDOT is pre-treating roads as North Georgia faces freezing rain and dangerous travel, while DPS, DNR, and other agencies stand by. Residents are urged to prepare, monitor forecasts, and rely on GEMA/HS and Ready Georgia updates for guidance and warming center information.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency ahead of a weekend winter storm expected to bring snow, sleet and ice, enabling emergency plans, deployment of responders and price-gouging protections. Residents are urged to stay off roads when possible, stock up on supplies and charge devices as forecasters warn of potentially hazardous conditions and power outages. The storm could affect the Charlotte and Raleigh areas, with snow and ice accumulations varying by location. State agencies have activated emergency resources and pre-treated roads; more information is available at ReadyNC.gov and DriveNC.gov.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a State of Preparedness to coordinate state agencies ahead of a potentially hazardous winter storm bringing snow and ice, urging residents to monitor forecasts, prepare emergency kits, and limit travel as the Maryland National Guard prepositions assets and officials coordinate with the National Weather Service.
Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency and activated the state's emergency operations plan to mobilize resources, potentially deploying the National Guard, as a winter storm threatens South Carolina; residents are urged to prepare and follow weather advisories.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated state emergency resources Thursday as an arctic blast brings dangerous cold, snow, ice and freezing rain across Texas, with North and Central Texas at highest risk for travel-disrupting conditions. Agencies including TxDOT, TDEM, National Guard, and multiple state departments will pre-treat and monitor roads and utilities, deploy warming centers, and assist stranded motorists while coordinating with local partners. Texans should stay weather-aware, check road conditions, and use DriveTexas and warming-center resources for guidance.
Gov. Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate statewide emergency resources in anticipation of a winter weather system bringing freezing temperatures, snow, sleet, and potential ice across Texas. Agencies from TxDOT to the National Guard will support road treatments, warming centers, and public safety operations. Texans are urged to stay weather-aware, check DriveTexas.org for road conditions, visit TexasReady.gov for safety tips, and follow local guidance; warming centers and other assistance will be coordinated through state resources listed at tdem.texas.gov/warm.
Alabama EMA says weekend snowfall remains uncertain with models trending lighter; whether a Gulf low forms, its development location, and strength will determine the impact. If no low forms, only flurries or light snow south of I-20; a Panhandle-anchored low could bring light accumulations east of I-65 and south of I-85; a stronger low near the MS/AL coast could yield more snow across southern Alabama.
FEMA employees warned Congress that the Trump administration has reversed progress in disaster response made since Hurricane Katrina, including plans to scale down FEMA and shift more disaster costs to states, raising concerns ahead of the storm's 20th anniversary.
Flood survivors in Texas recounted feelings of neglect and fear during a hearing, highlighting issues such as delayed emergency response, inadequate warning systems, and concerns over the handling of human remains, as lawmakers scrutinized disaster management efforts.