Gov. Greg Abbott activated more than 1,900 state emergency responders and 1,500 pieces of equipment Monday, Sept. 28, ahead of heavy rainfall expected to reach Southeast Texas by Thursday.

The governor directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to ramp up resources statewide, and the State Operations Center in Austin shifted to 24-hour operations starting Tuesday, Sept. 29, according to KHOU 11.

The Woodlands falls within the broader Southeast Texas region where 2 to 4 inches of rain are possible through the weekend, according to the Houston Chronicle. The heaviest rainfall is forecast to fall west of Interstate 45, including the Brazos Valley. No source has issued a specific flood threat level for Montgomery County, though western Harris County is under a Level 2 threat and areas to the east face a Level 1 threat. Montgomery County is already pursuing $51.5 million in federal funding to clear Woodlands-area waterways of debris and sediment that can worsen flooding.

Deployed assets include swiftwater rescue boats, high-profile vehicles, Texas National Guard personnel and Blackhawk helicopters. Texas Parks and Wildlife, Department of Public Safety troopers and emergency medical teams with ambulances and all-terrain vehicles are also part of the response.

Abbott said the state's goal is to save lives. At a Sept. 28 news conference at the State Operations Center in Austin, he called the announcement "an early warning to people across almost the entirety of the state of Texas," as Community Impact reported.

Abbott said the storms will cover "a far more vast portion of the state" than severe flooding in South-Central Texas in mid-July, which damaged property, swept cars off roadways and killed two people. He described the scope as stretching from El Paso to the Panhandle and the entire I-35 corridor.

The storm system draws tropical moisture from Hurricane Polo in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which is colliding with an approaching frontal boundary. Polo is not headed for Texas.

TDEM Chief Nim Kidd warned at the Sept. 28 briefing that "there will be a lot of rain in some places," as reported by Houston Public Media. Kidd urged drivers to turn around if they encounter flooded roads and to check conditions at DriveTexas.org.

Abbott said he expects to know more about impacts to individual rivers and communities on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Other state agencies are preparing to monitor roads, power outages, natural gas supplies and water and wastewater conditions.

Flood preparedness information is available at TexasReady.gov.