US EditionLawmakers Meet at First Special Session Hearing on Disaster Preparedness After Hill Country Floods
TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS, JUL 23 – Texas lawmakers examined emergency response failures and funding gaps after floods killed 136 people, with plans to improve statewide flood warning and communication systems.
- Texas lawmakers held their first joint hearing at 9 a.m. on July 23 in Austin to review disaster preparedness after the July 4 Hill Country floods that killed 136 people.
- The special session and committee formation responded to the catastrophic flooding and aimed to address missed opportunities in flood prevention and warning systems.
- The hearing focused on flood planning, infrastructure, early warning systems, emergency communications, and relief funding, with bills already filed including Senate Bills 1, 2, and 3.
- Governor Dan Patrick committed to enhancing flood warning systems, while lawmakers underscored the importance of acting quickly to prevent fatalities from events that warnings could potentially anticipate, as highlighted by Rep. Goodwin’s remarks.
- A follow-up hearing is planned for July 31 in Kerrville to gather testimony from flood survivors, and legislators have until the middle of August to enact focused laws aimed at prevention and recovery efforts.
45 Articles
45 Articles
Missed warnings, delayed action: Texas lawmakers confront flood response failures
More than 130 Texans lost their lives in the catastrophic July 4 floods, and for the first time state lawmakers gathered at the Capitol to ask what went wrong. What unfolded on Wednesday in Austin was a marathon joint hearing of the Texas House and Senate committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding filled with emotional exchanges, pointed questions and sobering admissions. Chief Nim Kidd, head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, …
Lawmakers meet at first special session hearing on disaster preparedness after Hill Country floods
The Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Joint Committee met for the first time on Wednesday with the goal of improving flood warning systems, communications, allocating funding and preparing plans ahead of the next natural disaster.The committee is meeting during Gov. Greg Abbott’s special legislative session. The public hearing on Wednesday invited state agency leaders to provide a testimony of their efforts to prevent the Hill Country floods an…
Cleburne Times-Review
Texas lawmakers scrutinize state's response to catastrophic floods
Texas lawmakers are scrutinizing the state’s emergency response to the July 4 floods that killed at least 136 people. A top Republican lawmaker stressed on Wednesday that legislators have no intention of criticizing or assigning blame. Some Democratic officials are…
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