Texas Governor Greg Abbott has amended and renewed the state’s drought disaster proclamation for several counties as of November 18, 2025. The original disaster proclamation was issued on July 8, 2022, and has since been updated multiple times due to ongoing exceptional drought conditions.
According to the Texas Division of Emergency Management, these drought conditions remain in certain counties and continue to increase the risk of wildfires.
Governor Abbott stated: “WHEREAS, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on July 8, 2022, as amended and renewed in a number of subsequent proclamations, certifying that exceptional drought conditions posed a threat of imminent disaster in several counties; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Division of Emergency Management has confirmed that those same drought conditions persist in certain counties in Texas and that the presence of drought conditions in certain counties contributes to increased wildfire danger;
NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby amend and renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster in Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Bee, Bexar, Blanco, Brewster, Burnet, Caldwell, Cameron, Childress, Clay, Collingsworth, Colorado, Comal, Comanche, Culberson, DeWitt, Donley, Fayette, Foard, Frio, Gillespie,Gonzales Grayson Guadalupe Hall Hardeman Hays Hidalgo Jim Wells Karnes Kendall Kerr Kinney Kleberg Lavaca Live Oak Llano Lubbock Matagorda McMullen Medina Midland Nueces Pecos Presidio Real San Patricio Terrell Travis Uvalde Val Verde Victoria Wharton Willacy Williamson Wilson and Zapata Counties.
Pursuant to Section 418.017 of the Texas Government Code,I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.
Pursuant to Section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent hinder or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended upon written approval of the Office of the Governor. However,to the extent that enforcementof any state statute or administrative rule regarding contracting or procurement would impede any state agency’s emergency response that is necessary to protect life or property threatened by this declared disaster I hereby authorize thesuspensionof such statutesand rulesfor the durationof this declareddisaster.
In accordance with thestatutory requirements,copiesofthisproclamationshallbefiledwiththeapplicableauthorities.”
The full text can be found at View the Governor’s proclamation.
