Denton County proclaims Severe Weather Awareness Week after storms knock out power to thousands

Denton County commissioners on March 4 unanimously approved a proclamation designating the week of March 3'March 7, 2025, as Severe Weather Awareness Week, after an emergency management briefing that underscored current storm impacts and preparedness steps.

A county emergency-management representative, Samantha, speaking on behalf of the National Weather Service Fort Worth partnership, told the court that earlier in the morning about 62,000 people had lost power across the county but that restorations had reduced the number to roughly 37,000. She urged residents to "be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours" and to sign up for local emergency alerts.

Samantha outlined key hazards for North Texas including tornadoes, lightning, hail and flooding; she said Denton County has recorded 65 tornadoes between 1955 and 2025. She recommended multiple ways to receive warnings, urged residents to identify safe rooms and family meeting points and promoted a local community emergency response team training scheduled for March 7'8 and 14'15.

The commissioners adopted the proclamation by motion of the chair and a second by Commissioner Mitchell; the vote was unanimous. The proclamation asks residents to prepare emergency kits, plan communication with family and heed instructions from local and state emergency officials.

Ending: Officials said they will continue coordination with utilities, the National Weather Service and volunteer spotters and encouraged residents to complete a county storm-shelter survey and to consider available safe-room rebate programs.