Hot Topics Archives - Disaster Assessment and Recovery

Severe Weather 101: Tornadoes, Severe Thunderstorms

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:01:00 +0000

Source: NOAA.gov

Learn all about thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, lightning, floods, damaging winds and more.

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Fires & Wildfires

Randi Williams — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:20:44 +0000

Wildfires affect America’s farms and ranches, damaging and destroying homes, barns, agriculture production facilities, crops and livestock. Much of this damage can be avoided, or at least minimized, if a few precautions are taken to minimize the risk and spread of wildfires.

Wildfire Maps & Updates:

Wildfire Resources from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension:

Additional Resources:

Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal (link)
Wildfires (link)
How to Reduce Your Exposure to Particles in Wildfire Smoke (link)
Financial Assistance due to loss from Wildfire link)
Emergency Animal Mortality Management (pdf)
Burial of Catastrophic Mortality from Poultry Operations (pdf)
Disposal of Livestock Carcasses (pdf)
Affidavit for Carcass Burial Disposal (editable word document)
USDA Livestock Indemnity Program (link)
USDA Service Center Locator – used to locate offices for: NRCS, FSA and local Soil and Water Conservation District
Managing Debris From Texas Wildfires (pdf)
Managing Waste from Texas Wildfires (link)
Managing Contaminated Animal and Plant Materials Field Guide on Best Practices (pdf)
Prepare for Wildfires: Protecting Your Home (link)
Forecast Fire Danger Map
Wildfire Preparedness (link)

Home Fire Resources:

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Preparing for Winter Storms

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:24:25 +0000

In many parts of Texas, severe winter weather can threaten your safety and the safety of your property. Blizzards, heavy snow, freezing rain, ice, and freezing temperatures occasionally cause havoc in parts of Texas.

Winter storms are known as deceptive killers because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Some causes of injury and death include hypothermia from prolonged exposure to the cold, carbon monoxide poisoning from defective heating units and/or poor ventilation, and automobile accidents. According to the National Weather Service, about half of people who die from hypothermia are over the age of 60. The majority of fatalities that occur due to ice and snow happen in automobile accidents; other fatalities occur because people are caught out in the storm. Even if you think you are safe and warm at home, a winter storm can become dangerous if the power goes off. With a little planning, you can protect yourself and your family and keep your property losses to a minimum.

Additional Resources:

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July 2025 Texas Flooding Recovery Resources

chris.elam — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:22:02 +0000

If you or someone you know has been affected by the recent flooding in the Texas Hill Country, the following resources are available to help guide the recovery process.

Whether you’re seeking assistance for your own recovery or looking for ways to support neighbors and communities in need, these downloadable resources provide practical, research-based information to help Texans navigate the challenges ahead.

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Solar Eclipse Preparedness for Texans

blair.fannin — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:06:37 +0000

Texans will have the opportunity to view a total solar eclipse on April 8. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

A total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8. The event will attract thousands of sky watchers to Texas as the moon covers up all or most of the sun. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Disaster Assessment and Recovery unit, in alignment with other state emergency preparedness officials urge individuals to be mindful of increased traffic and resources leading up to the event.

What is a solar eclipse?

Solar eclipses are essentially cosmic confluences, occurring when the sun, the moon and Earth align. The moon passes in front of the sun, temporarily blocking its light. The moon can fully obscure the sun, as is the case with total solar eclipses, or it can block only a part of the sun’s light, as happens with partial solar eclipses.

What to expect

The total solar eclipse is expected to last more than 4 minutes as it tracks across the Texas sky on April 8. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Because a solar eclipse is a natural event and only happens periodically, there is an incredible amount of excitement and many people in Texas can expect a large increase in tourists, increased traffic, heavy spikes in hotel occupancy rates, decrease in the quality of cell service and delays in supply chain deliveries.

How to prepare

Plan and anticipate higher than normal traffic on roadways and commerce at retail businesses. Plan ahead tips include:

Schedule errands and appointments two to three days before the eclipse.
Fill up gas tanks.
Stock up trucks: Make sure oil and transmission levels are full and first aid kits packed as part of basic needs travel.
Buy and stock up on groceries.
Know local business and service hours as they might be closed early during the eclipse.
Have several forms of communication, not only cellular, and know the closest landline.
Be sure to check the weather.

What to bring

Eclipse viewing glasses should be worn for protection and should meet ISO standards. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

In the case that there will be an eclipse watching event, here are a few items to carry along:

Eclipse viewing glasses that meet ISO standards.
Large amounts of drinking water.
First aid kit and any necessary medications.
Sunscreen, sunglasses and hat/visor.
Snacks and/or food.
Map and/or directions of the event area. Print hard copy to avoid bad cellular service.
Comfortable folding chairs and clothing.
Cash, online operating systems may be down due to poor service.
Bug spray and/or repellant.

More information on preparedness

AgriLife Extension has compiled a fact sheet to help Texans, tourists and local businesses learn how to effectively prepare for the solar eclipse.

Read more via the solar eclipse viewing guide on AgriLife Today.

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Severe Weather and Crops

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:10:32 +0000

There are belts of hail damage to agricultural crops almost every year in Texas. The decision to replant, to accept the damage, or to salvage crops does not have to be made the same day as the event. Usually a few days of evaluation results in the best options being identified. If no alternative crop can be established in the same field at that time of year, the only acceptable solution may be to collect insurance and to salvage whatever is allowed.

Additional Resources:

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Hurricane Resources

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 23:19:28 +0000

Hurricanes and tropical storms are cyclones that begin in the tropics. They bring a variety of life-threatening hazards such as high winds, flooding and loss of utilities. Preparation is the best protection against the dangers of a hurricane. Much of the damage and loss of life associated with hurricanes can be prevented or reduced by planning, preparation and evacuation.

Preparedness Resources:

Recovery Resources:

Animal Issues:

Pet & Animal Emergency Planning (external link)
Evacuating Horses ( Video )
Hurricane Preparedness for Livestock Owners ( Video 1 ) ( Video 2 )
Sheltering Livestock in Place ( Video 1 ) ( Video 2 )
Hurricane Preparedness for Livestock Producers (eBook)
More resources related to Animal Issues

Additional Resources:

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Texas Flu Season Resources & Updates

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:46:02 +0000

Source: Texas Department of State Health Services

The Texas Department of State Health Services urges everyone six months old and older to get vaccinated against the flu. It is particularly important for pregnant women, young children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions, because people in those groups are at a greater risk of severe complications if they do get the flu.

Help spread the word, not the flu, with downloadable fliers, stickers, and door hangers. Get materials to help teach elementary school students how to protect themselves from the flu.

For more information visit Texas Health and Human Services|Texas Department of State Health Services: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/influenza-flu

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Replacing Personal Documents after a Disaster

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 19:14:51 +0000

Use the contact information listed on the publication below to replace the following documents:

Texas Driver License
Bank checks, ATM/Debit Cards, Safe Deposit Boxes
Credit Report
Social Security Card
Birth Certificates or Marriage Licenses
Medicare Cards
Passport
U.S. Savings Bonds
Tax Returns
Military Records

Replacing Personal Documents After a Natural Disaster (pdf)

Additional resources and contact information for Texans

View more Disaster Recovery information »

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Wildfire Preparedness Tips and Resources for Ranchers and Landowners

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 14:43:30 +0000

Source: AgriLife Today

With the wildfire season really heating up, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is offering several fact sheets to help ranchers and landowners prepare for and mitigate wildfire damages.

“We had a fabulously wet spring, we grew a lot of grass and now it has been dry,” said Tim Steffens, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension range management specialist in Canyon. “These little rains we’ve been having aren’t going to change that until we have a good snow on the ground.”

Two publications covering wildfire behavior and emergency responses that can help protect property and lives when wildfire occurs are offered by Steffens and Morgan Treadwell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension range specialist, San Angelo.

Steffens said doing some strategic grazing and moving cattle from one pasture to another will help manage fuels one pasture at a time.

He said the best plan is to “plan ahead,” so if you have cropland as well as rangeland when March and April come around, the livestock can be pastured near a plowed field where they can escape a wall of fire onto dirt.

Another piece of advice is to start fireproofing the headquarters as much as possible. Put in gravel where possible, keep the weeds low and make sure nothing is piled alongside the house or buildings. More information is offered in the publications.

Prepping roads or perimeter fire breaks with burnout operations widens the fire break and provides an extra buffer from lofting embers from an active fire.

But Treadwell warns that any prescribed fire or burnout operation this time of year needs to be thoroughly thought out and successfully executed within appropriate weather conditions.

Publications:

View more wildfire resources »

View full article

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