1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The July 2025 Central Texas floods were the state's second-deadliest, killing at least 136 people, with 108 in Kerr County alone, and four missing. Damages are estimated in the tens of billions. Families lost homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. While federal aid is available, state resources must supplement it to cover medical, dental, transportation, funeral, displacement, property, and childcare costs. Our constituents' recovery is paramount. We must also build infrastructure to prevent future devastation. Kerr County's lack of flood warning systems highlights this need. The 2024 State Flood Plan identifies a $54.5 billion need for statewide flood mitigation, including $24 billion for a coastal barrier system for Houston and emphasizing early warning systems. Despite previous appropriations, more is needed for smart technology, predictive analytics, and real-time data for effective early warning systems. This includes floodplain management, improved stormwater infrastructure, and acquiring flood-prone properties. Proactive investment saves lives, protects property, and reduces long-term economic burdens. It's disheartening when politicians dismiss making tragedy "political" when political decisions cause them. Similar patterns followed Snovid and Uvalde, where calls for change in energy regulation and gun safety stalled. Instead of funding flood control needs, the legislature prioritized property tax relief. What good is tax relief when homes are swept away in avoidable floods? There's also a history of rejecting federal public safety funds. These decisions gambled with Texans' lives, and children paid the price. It's time to demand accountability and for officials to focus on real solutions, not political games. Including flood-related agenda items like improving early warning systems, strengthening emergency communications, streamlining disaster preparedness, and providing relief funding is a start, but these must be genuine priorities, not political cover.