Tell Texas Legislators to Do More to Protect Texans Against Floods

In July, 2024, at least 139 Texans lost their lives in the devastating Hill Country Floods. Thousands more were injured, displaced, and traumatized. It is estimated that this single extreme weather event resulted in over $1.1 billion in property damages.

Photo credit Texas Hill County

As a result, Governor Abbott called two special sessions to address flood issues and safety, but little action on flood safety actually happened as those sessions were instead used to pass gerrymandered congressional district maps and other partisan “priorities.”

While a few bills did pass on camp safety and early warning flood sirens did pass, most never saw the light of day.

Now, with the 90th Legislative Session just around the corner, Texas Legislators have the chance to do right by their constituents and pass common-sense flood protection laws and regulations that can save lives.

Send a message to your legislators now urging them to prioritize the safety of Texans next session!

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As your constituent, I’m writing to ask that you prioritize the safety of Texans next legislative session. The Legislature must adopt recommendations made by the Texas Water Development Board and the State Flood Plan in order to keep communities safe from devastating floods.

I urge you to consider legislation that:

- Directs the TWDB to establish enhanced floodplain standards required for cities and counties, including standards around buildings and infrastructure;

- Updates floodplain maps to reflect the reality of climate change and extreme weather;

- Updates city and county building codes to assure that buildings are built to be resilient to floods and other natural storms;

- Provides counties with enhanced authority over drainage fees, building codes, impervious cover and key water and flood issues;

- Invests in a statewide land conservation program to protect riparian areas and utilize green infrastructure to help Texans;

- Authorizes funding for flood infrastructure, including technical assistance and community outreach as part of the Flood Infrastructure Fund.

Thank you for your time and attention to this issue.

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