Lubbock-County Emergency-Management

06/24/2026

Event: Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Effective: 06:59 PM CDT on 06/23/2026
Expires: 08:00 PM CDT on 06/23/2026

Alert: SVRLUB The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northern Lubbock County in northwestern Texas... Northwestern Crosby County in northwestern Texas... Southern Hale County in northwestern Texas... * Until 800 PM CDT. * At 658 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Abernathy, moving southeast at 15 mph. HAZARD...Golf ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Lubbock, Abernathy, Idalou, Petersburg, Lubbock International Airport, and New Deal.

Instructions: Prepare immediately for large hail and damaging winds. People outside should move immediately to shelter inside a strong building. Stay away from windows. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
Target Area: Crosby, TX; Hale, TX; Lubbock, TX

06/23/2026

Event: Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Effective: 06:03 PM CDT on 06/23/2026
Expires: 07:00 PM CDT on 06/23/2026

Alert: SVRLUB The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northeastern Lubbock County in northwestern Texas... Hale County in northwestern Texas... Southern Swisher County in the Panhandle of Texas... * Until 700 PM CDT. * At 603 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Kress to 6 miles south of Cotton Center, moving east at 20 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Plainview, Abernathy, Hale Center, Petersburg, Kress, Cotton Center, Halfway, Claytonville, Seth Ward, and Edmonson.

Instructions: Prepare immediately for large hail and deadly cloud to ground lightning. Seek shelter inside a well-built structure. Stay away from windows.

Target Area: Hale, TX; Lubbock, TX; Swisher, TX

06/23/2026

Event: Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Effective: 04:48 PM CDT on 06/23/2026
Expires: 10:00 PM CDT on 06/23/2026

Alert: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 383 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN TEXAS THIS WATCH

INCLUDES 14 COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST TEXAS BAILEY CROSBY DICKENS FLOYD HALE HOCKLEY LAMB LUBBOCK MOTLEY IN THE PANHANDLE OF TEXAS BRISCOE CASTRO HALL PARMER SWISHER

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF AMHERST, BOVINA, CROSBYTON, DICKENS, DIMMITT, FARWELL, FLOYDADA, FRIONA, HALE CENTER, HAPPY, HART, LEVELLAND, LITTLEFIELD, LOCKNEY, LUBBOCK, MATADOR, MEMPHIS, MULESHOE, OLTON, PLAINVIEW, QUITAQUE, RALLS, ROARING SPRINGS, SILVERTON, SLATON, SPUR, SUNDOWN, TULIA, TURKEY, AND WOLFFORTH.

Target Area: Bailey, TX; Briscoe, TX; Castro, TX; Crosby, TX; Dickens, TX; Floyd, TX; Hale, TX; Hall, TX; Hockley, TX; Lamb, TX; Lubbock, TX; Motley, TX; Parmer, TX; Swisher, TX

06/23/2026

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2026
4:30 P.M

Ref: Fireworks Safety Rules For 4th of July Celebration

With Fireworks sales starting on June 24, 2026, Lubbock County Office of Emergency Management in coordination with the Lubbock County Volunteer Fire Departments would like to remind citizens there is not a mandatory restriction on the sale or use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Lubbock County for the 2026 Fourth of July Fireworks Season.

However, Fireworks Bans for Municipality, or Special District as defined by Texas State Law will be in place.

Most jurisdictions have city ordinances prohibiting the use of fireworks within or near the city limits. If you are unsure of the ordinances, it is always safer to check with the city or local fire department prior to the purchase or discharge of fireworks.

We caution citizens as Lubbock County is at Stage 1 Moderate Drought conditions and worsening with a KBDI Average of 476 as of June 23, 2020. The drought is expected to intensify over the next few days.

Lubbock County is in normal wildfire danger conditions and expected to worsen with the continued hot and dry weather conditions.

Many people will buy and use consumer fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July. If you choose to use consumer fireworks, please do so safely, responsibly, and legally.
In Texas, you must be at least 16 years old to legally purchase fireworks.

We also request citizens to pick up any trash generated by use of fireworks and do not leave trash in the area you use fireworks.

Fireworks Safety Obey all local fireworks laws. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
· Don’t buy fireworks in brown paper packaging, they may have been made for professional displays and are dangerous to consumers.
· Always have a water hose, bucket of water, wet towels, or fire extinguisher nearby.
· Do not hold lit fireworks, other than sparklers.
· Never throw fireworks at another person, animal, or vehicle.
· Never shoot fireworks from metal or glass containers. The container may shatter, causing serious injury or death.
· Always stand at least six feet from another person while using sparklers or other fireworks.
· The embers from sparklers are very hot and will burn the skin and fabrics.
· Sparklers burn at a temperature near 2,000 degrees and the wire and sticks of sparklers will stay hot long after the sparkler has gone out. Never toss sparklers on the ground. They may catch dry grass and leaves on fire. Put spent sparklers directly in a bucket of water.
· Never hold or light more than one sparkler at a time or hand a lighted sparkler to another person.
· Never experiment with, modify, combine, or create your own fireworks. Never try to re-light a firework that did not function
· Put spent fireworks into a bucket of water or sand to put them completely out.
· When finished, clean up all fireworks debris.
Fireworks and Children
· Never allow young children to play with or light fireworks.
· Children should never be left unattended around fireworks, matches, or lighters.
· Many fireworks have age information printed on the packaging, similar to toys. Purchase and use only age-appropriate fireworks for your children.
· Children under 12 should not use sparklers or any other fireworks without very close adult supervision.
· Never hold a child in your arms while using sparklers.
· Teach children not to wave sparklers, especially wooden stick sparklers, or run while holding sparklers.

For more information about consumer fireworks safety, see the links below.

Texas Department of Insurance Fireworks Safety Tips Factsheet English.
http://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/videoresource/fsfireworks.pdf

Texas Department of Insurance Fireworks Safety Tips Factsheet Spanish.
http://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/videoresourcessp/spfsfireworks.pdf

Consumer Products Safety Commission Fireworks Information Center
https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks/

For additional information and / or questions, please contact Clinton Thetford, Lubbock County Emergency Management Coordinator at 806 775-7300 or [email protected]

06/22/2026

PRESS RELEASE
June 22, 2026
1:30 pm

Lubbock County Office of Emergency Management, The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office Mobile Operations Vehicle Team, Members of the West Texas Pathfinders, and Members of the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), Lubbock County and State of Texas programs, will participate in the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Amateur Radio Field Day Emergency Communications Exercise held annually.

This year’s event will be located at the Lubbock County Emergency Operations Center located at 719 Main Street, Lubbock, Texas, and run from 10:00 am on June 27, through 4:00 pm on June 28, 2026.

The Public is invited to attend this event and learn about emergency communication methods.

Field Day is an emergency communications response exercise, public education opportunity and outreach to the citizens in our community.

It allows for demonstration of emergency communications methods citizens can utilize for disasters and emergencies.

This event will also provide training on the use of Amateur Radio Equipment to our Team Members, Amateur Radio Operators and Citizen’s, by providing operational experience that may be required during disaster and emergency response.

Available PSA’s

Video:
https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Media%20&%20PR/PSA/Joe%20Walsh%20General%2060%20second%20PSA.mp4

Audio:
https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Media%20&%20PR/PSA/Joe%20Walsh%2029%20second%20audio%20general.wav

Key Governmental Officials, Community Leaders, Amateur Radio Operators and Citizens are invited to participate in this event and learn more about the Emergency Communications aspect of Amateur Radio.

For more information, please contact the Lubbock County Office of Emergency Management at (806) 775-7300.

06/22/2026

Cooler east winds today with some morning clouds will keep highs in the 80s north to the 90s south, with some chances for showers and storms mostly off the Caprock.

06/21/2026

06/18/2026

🇺🇸 Texas Proclaims Amateur Radio Week — June 22–28, 2026

Governor Greg Abbott has officially proclaimed June 22–28, 2026, as Amateur Radio Week in Texas, recognizing the contributions of amateur radio operators across our state.

For more than a century, amateur radio operators have provided communication, technical innovation, public service, and emergency support when communities need it most. From severe weather events and disasters to public service activities and community preparedness, amateur radio continues to play an important role in keeping Texans connected.

Here in West Texas, we see that spirit every day through the volunteers who support emergency management, SKYWARN weather operations, community events, training, and public preparedness efforts.

This recognition is a reminder that amateur radio is more than a hobby—it is a valuable community resource built on service, education, and resilience.

As we celebrate Amateur Radio Week, we also invite the public to join us for ARRL Field Day 2026 on June 27–28 at the Lubbock County Emergency Operations Center. Come see amateur radio in action, learn how communication works when traditional systems fail, and meet the volunteers helping build a more prepared community.

📡 Ready Together. Stronger Together.

🌐 westtexaspathfinders.org

06/17/2026