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A disaster declaration is in effect in 17 North Texas counties. Governor Greg Abbott issued the declaration on Thursday in response to the National Weather Service's forecast of ice accumulations in Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Johnson, and a dozen other counties. Governor Abbott stated that the forecast meant that the ice storm "poses an imminent threat of severe property damage, injury, or loss of life" in the counties involved. He also said the state power grid would hold up under nearly record-breaking demand this morning.