Gov. Abbott Declared State Of Emergency As Tropical Storm Beta Nears Coast

As Tropical Storm Beta moves closer to the Texas coast, parts of the state are bracing for the impact of potential flooding and heavy winds.

Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for dozens of counties across the eastern part of the state in response to the impending storm.

The counties that are included in the disaster declaration include: Aransas, Bee, Bexar, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Liberty, Live Oak, Matagorda, Neuces, Orange Refugio, Sabine, San Augustine, San Patricio, Shelby, Travis, Victoria, and Wharton.

The declaration came Monday morning and activated the state's emergency resources.

The tropical storm is not expected to make it to Hurricane strength before landfall, however, the effects can still be significant. The storm could bring in up to 15 inches of rain in some areas, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Abbot stated, "As Tropical Storm Beta approaches the coast, I urge Texans in the path of the storm to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe from flooding, storm surge, and other impacts from this severe weather. The State of Texas is working closely with local officials on the ground to provide the resources our communities need to respond to Tropical Storm Beta and keep residents safe."

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