Latest news with #WesVirdell
LeMonde
5 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Deadly floods in Texas put Republicans on the defensive: 'It was an act of God, not the administration'
If only he had known... Three days after catastrophic floods devastated his county, Republican Representative Wes Virdell publicly admitted he regretted voting against a natural disaster response bill introduced in early March in the Texas legislature. The bill, called "HB 13," would have implemented an action plan across all 254 counties in the state. It aimed to improve warning systems where they existed and offered grants to other counties to purchase emergency communications equipment and build radio towers. These precautions were sorely lacking for residents of Kerr County, Virdell's district, when the Guadalupe River overflowed in the middle of the night after torrential rains, sweeping away trailers and people in a torrent of mud. The county had no emergency siren. More than 100 people died, including 28 children spending July at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp established a century ago on the riverbank. More than 10 people are still missing as of Tuesday, July 8. In this staunchly Republican state that prides itself on not charging a state income tax – residents pay only federal tax – the bill, with an estimated cost of $500 million over 10 years, was deemed too expensive for Texas taxpayers. "I can tell you in hindsight, watching what it takes to deal with a disaster like this, my vote would probably be different now," Virdell told the Texas Tribune, while noting that, even if adopted, the warning system would not have been in place before early September.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas state rep on why he voted against emergency alert bill
Texas Republican State Rep. Wes Virdell, who represents Kerr County, joins NewsNation after facing backlash for voting against a $500 million emergency alert bill. Critics say the system could've helped during last week's deadly Texas floods.
Axios
6 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Texas state leaders didn't prioritize flood management
As Texas state leaders have prioritized spending on border security and property tax cuts, they have been far more reluctant to fund flood management efforts. Why it matters: Texas leads the nation by a wide margin in flood deaths. More than 1,000 people died in Texas floods from 1959 to 2019, according to an academic analysis, most having occurred in the Hill Country. Local officials in areas like Kerr County have struggled to secure funding for basic warning systems and have instead relied on National Weather Service text alerts and word-of-mouth to alert residents of flooding, rather than costly outdoor siren systems. The big picture: Despite Texas' vulnerability, the state didn't complete a comprehensive statewide assessment of flood risk and solutions until last year. "Planning, in the long term, is going to save lives; it's going to protect people; it's going to reduce misery ... not just in monetary costs but also in human suffering," Reem Zoun, the director of flood planning for the Texas Water Development Board, told members of the board last August. "What we do will not eliminate flooding. If we have large storms, we're still going to flood — but if we work properly and proactively, and have appropriate floodplain management practices, we will see less impact." By the numbers: Though the Texas Water Development Board has identified more than $54 billion in needed flood-control projects, lawmakers have only allocated roughly $669 million so far, the New York Times reported Monday. This year, the Legislature approved $2.5 billion for the Texas Water Fund — used to finance water projects in Texas, including conservation, desalination, and flood mitigation — with the possibility of $1 billion per year over 20 years using sales tax revenue, pending voter approval in November. Lawmakers also passed Senate Bill 1967, expanding projects that can be awarded from the Texas Flood Infrastructure Fund. One key proposal, House Bill 13, would have created a state council to establish a unified disaster response and alert system, but it stalled in the Senate after some Republican lawmakers questioned its cost. The bill would have required the council to consider the use of outdoor warning sirens and implement an emergency alert system. "I can tell you in hindsight, watching what it takes to deal with a disaster like this, my vote would probably be different now," state Rep. Wes Virdell, a Republican who represents Kerr County, told the Texas Tribune. Zoom in: In the Hill Country, technological and infrastructure barriers have slowed adoption of modern flood alerts. Kerrville officials explored installing a warning system in 2017 but rejected the idea over its price tag. The county later missed out on a $1 million grant and, as recently as 2023, was still weighing other funding options, according to KXAN. Outdoor emergency sirens may have given people more time to escape, former Kerr County commissioner Tom Moser told the New York Times, but a single siren can cost as high as $50,000. What's next: Gov. Greg Abbott indicated Sunday that he'll include the notification issue on the upcoming special session agenda.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Texas flooding: Kerr County said no to alert sirens over cost — now it's facing the consequences
Kerr County Siren System Rejected Over Cost Concerns State Bill to Improve Alerts Failed in Senate Lawmakers Now Rethinking Their Vote Live Events Flash Flood Strikes While Residents Slept No Backup Alert System in Place Governor Acknowledges Need for Change FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel When the Guadalupe River rose from one foot to over 34 feet in just a few hours, inundating parts of Kerr County in the early morning on Friday while most residents were asleep and by the time many realized what was happening, it was already too late, as per a report. This has led to increased scrutiny about Kerr County's past decisions to reject an outdoor siren alert system because of cost concerns, as reported by Latin Kerr County is located in a flood-prone region of the Texas Hill Country, there were proposals for siren-based warning systems, but they were previously rejected because of the financial burden on local taxpayers, according to the this year, an effort at the state level to improve the emergency communication infrastructure, House Bill 13, failed in the Texas Senate, as reported by Latin Times. Bill 13 was to fund the improved disaster alert systems and provided grants for counties to build infrastructure like sirens and radio towers, as per the READ: Trump's tariffs may split the world into 3 rival blocs — here's where each nation could land But a few lawmakers, like state Rep. Wes Virdell, had voted against it because of its projected $500 million cost, though several now are saying that they would reconsider their stance as flash flooding killed about 82 people statewide, with 68 of them in Kerr County alone, according to Latin Times who were killed were attending camps or camping along the river, and even though mobile alerts were issued via the National Weather Service, many residents are believed to have not seen the warnings because they were issued in the early morning hours, or many even lacked access to mobile devices, as per the READ: Flyers fume as Southwest Airlines shocks passengers with policy changes — key updates you need to know According to the report, only a county-wide siren system could have served as a secondary, audible layer of alert, which Kerr County never implemented. Now the local and state officials are trying to search, conduct rescue operations, and support survivors, as per Latin Gov. Greg Abbott now admitted to the potential value of better alert systems and highlighted that future legislation might address the issue, but he declined to commit to including it in the special session beginning July 21, as reported by Latin READ: Wolfspeed stock soars over 100% after shock CFO appointment — who is Gregor van Issum? The county had considered outdoor sirens in the past but rejected the idea, citing cost rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise over 34 feet in just a few hours, as per Latin Times.
Int'l Business Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Int'l Business Times
Flooded Texas County Opposed Siren Alert System That Could Have Warned Residents Because of the Cost
As the death toll from flash floods in Central Texas climbs past 80, scrutiny is mounting over Kerr County's past decisions to reject an outdoor siren alert system due to cost concerns. Kerr County, located in a flood-prone region of the Texas Hill Country, has previously dismissed proposals for siren-based warning systems, citing financial burden on local taxpayers. A recent effort at the state level to bolster emergency communication infrastructure, House Bill 13, failed in the Texas Senate earlier this year. The bill would have funded improved disaster alert systems and provided grants for counties to build infrastructure like sirens and radio towers, according to the Texas Tribune . Some lawmakers, including state Rep. Wes Virdell, voted against it due to its projected $500 million cost, though several now admit they're reconsidering in the wake of recent events. On Friday, torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to swell from one foot to over 34 feet in just a few hours, inundating parts of Kerr County in the early morning hours while most residents were asleep. The flash flooding killed at least 82 people statewide, 68 of them in Kerr County alone, many attending camps or camping along the river. While mobile alerts were issued through the National Weather Service, many residents are believed to have not seen the warnings due to them being issued in the early morning hours, or lacked access to mobile devices altogether. A county-wide siren system could have served as a secondary, audible layer of alert, but Kerr County never implemented one. Local and state officials are now focused on search and rescue operations and supporting survivors. Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledged the potential value of better alert systems and said future legislation could address the issue, though he declined to commit to including it in the special session beginning July 21. Originally published on Latin Times
