Lawmakers prepare to address flooding systems in special legislative session

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – A top priority for Gov. Greg Abbott going forward is flood response and preparedness, following the devastating flooding in the Hill Country.

In addition to more than a dozen legislative items set to be discussed in an upcoming special session, select committees will be formed by the state legislature to look into flood issues.

“We are not going to be able to protect Texans from the weather, but we can do our best to communicate, when danger is approaching, and I think that’s going to be the challenge for the legislature coming up,” State Rep. Daniel Alders said.

Lt. Dan Patrick and Speaker of the Texas State House, Dustin Burrows will each call nine members to a joint committee to examine flooding warning systems, flood emergency communications, relief funding and recovery.

“The issue is this, we need emergency communication systems in place to be able to let folks know when there’s a natural disaster,” Alders said.

Alders said he believes there are some guidelines that can be put in place for campgrounds to have a way to handle an emergency like a flash flood.

After the fatal floods garnered national attention, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited the hardest hit areas in Kerr County.

“To the community to everybody who lost a loved one, we are grieving with you, our nation is grieving with you,” Melania said.

The president pledged at a roundtable with county, state and federal officials to provide whatever relief aid Texas needs to recover.

“We’ve deployed over 400 first responders that assisted or enabled more than 1500 rescues,” President Trump said.

State Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola offered one potential solution before the special session what begins July 21.

“Sirens probably make more sense, old school technology that can reach everyone,” State Sen. Bryan Hughes said.

As crews from all over the nation continue to search for missing people, Gov. Abbott wants Texans to come together and uplift those who’ve suffered an unimaginable loss.

“We will be our quintessential selves and that is Texas tough, Texas resilient,” Gov. Abbott said.