AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers are holding a hearing Thursday to examine the state's response to deadly flooding this month, as officials review emergency preparedness, rescue operations and recovery efforts following severe storms that struck large parts of the state.
The hearing comes days after flooding killed at least two people and prompted hundreds of rescues across central and southern Texas, according to state and local authorities. The storms caused widespread damage, including to homes, roads and bridges, while emergency crews used boats, helicopters and other resources to evacuate residents and conduct welfare checks.
Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster in 59 counties on July 14 and placed the state's emergency operations center under an escalated response as severe weather continued. The Texas Division of Emergency Management said more than 1,300 state personnel from more than 30 agencies had been activated by July 15, with hundreds of vehicles, boats and aircraft deployed.
Abbott later said the state was moving from emergency response toward cleanup and rebuilding. On July 17, he requested a federal major disaster declaration covering 28 counties, saying the designation would provide federal assistance for recovery and reconstruction.
The hearing also follows renewed scrutiny of Texas flood preparedness after last year's catastrophic July 4 flooding along the Guadalupe River, which killed 137 people across five counties, according to a joint investigation by the Texas House and Senate. A final legislative report released in June found failures involving emergency planning, evacuation procedures and communications among authorities.
The 2025 disaster prompted Texas lawmakers to require additional flood warning measures in areas considered especially vulnerable. The latest flooding has renewed attention on whether those measures, along with broader emergency-response preparations, are sufficient to protect communities exposed to rapidly rising waters.
State officials have said emergency personnel remain focused on recovery, debris removal and assistance to affected communities. Abbott said on July 20 that the state had identified about 490 damaged homes and was working with local authorities to speed cleanup and rebuilding.
The hearing is expected to provide lawmakers with an opportunity to assess the response to the latest floods and consider further measures as Texas continues its recovery.
