US EditionTexas Rep Defends Vote Against Emergency Alert Bill Amid Floods
KERR COUNTY, TEXAS, JUL 6 – Texas lawmakers opposed a $500 million bill to enhance flood warnings despite 79 deaths in recent Central Texas floods, citing cost concerns amid ongoing disaster response efforts.
- In early 2023, the Texas Senate failed to pass House Bill 13, which aimed to create a statewide disaster response plan and grant program, despite recent deadly floods in Kerr County.
- Prompted by last year’s wildfires, House Bill 13, introduced by King, R-Canadian, faced criticism over its $500 million cost and was struck down in the Senate.
- During Friday's floods, at least 79 people died, including 68 in Kerr County, as the Guadalupe River rose from 1 to over 34 feet between 2 and 7 a.m.
- In the aftermath of the bill’s defeat, Kerr County responders focus on rescuing victims, with Virdell urging, 'let's save all the lives we can.'
- Gov. Greg Abbott has scheduled a July 21 special session to reconsider disaster warning legislation, which would not take effect until September 1 if passed.
23 Articles
23 Articles
NewsNation
Verve timesTexas rep defends vote against emergency alert bill amid floods
(NewsNation) — A Texas state representative defended his vote against a $500 million emergency alert bill, saying it lacked transparency and would not have funded actual warning systems that could have helped prevent flood deaths. Republican State Rep. Wes Virdell told NewsNation that he opposed the legislation because "it creates a council that has no transparency" and was "actually exempt from transparency." The bill would have established out…
It is one of the largest flood disasters in the US over the past hundred years. The number of fatalities has risen to almost ninety. Meanwhile, it is being discussed why the early warning system did not work.
TX Republican now regrets voting against disaster plan: 'In hindsight'
"Texas lawmakers failed to pass a bill to improve local disaster warning systems this year" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.Sign up for T...
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