Texas lawmakers failed to pass a bill to improve local disaster warning systems this year

[RandySF]

For the last three days, state Rep. Wes Virdell has been out with first responders in Kerr County as they searched for victims and survivors from the devastating floods that swept through Central Texas early Friday morning.

“All the focus right now is let’s save all the lives we can,” Virdell, who was still on the scene in Kerrville, told The Texas Tribune on Sunday.

Virdell’s closeup view of the havoc wreaked on his district has made a lasting impression, he said, and left him reconsidering a vote he made just a few months ago against a bill that would have established a statewide plan to improve Texas’ disaster response, including better alert systems, along with a grant program for counties to buy new emergency communication equipment and build new infrastructure like radio towers.

“I can tell you in hindsight, watching what it takes to deal with a disaster like this, my vote would probably be different now,” said Virdell, a freshman GOP lawmaker from Brady.



https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/06/texas-disaster-warning-emergency-communication-bill-kerrville-floods/

[pfitz59]

1. Mea Culpea is not enough

Oust the bastard.

[Attilatheblond]

11. And make sure everyone in TX knows the names of EVERYONE who voted against improving the warning system

Billboards in those districts now & prior to their next election.

[tanyev]

2. Thoughts and prayers not accomplishing anything in real life, Rep. Virdell?

[Norrrm]

4. Thoughts and prayers are cheaper.

??? Probably not.

Even a quick pr visit is cheaper.

[LuvLoogie]

3. Texas? If they do go back and pass that bill,

they would not raise any taxes. They would take the money from public schools and what's left of programs to help the poor.

[ananda]

7. A few weeks ago Congress sent Abbott 12 billion dollars...

to pay for the border stuff.

That was to get Chip Roy onside in a chamber vote.

I think they could use some of that for improving
their disaster system.

[LuvLoogie]

26. Would they ever, though?

The trend in fiscal/political choices indicate otherwise.

[ananda]

29. Agree. Just sayin the money is there.

...

[not fooled]

5. So, "reality" based on written history and information is a foreign concept

Has no meaning unless the GQPeer experiences it firsthand.

Guess all those millennia of writing and recording factual information that he could, you know, "read" to inform himself before voting were for naught.

[DSandra]

23. They pretty much only can learn the hard way

But too bad for the victims that have to pay for said lesson.

[Rebl2]

6. Well

Too little to late

[Lonestarblue]

8. That headline is misleading. It was Texas Republicans who refused to pass a bill for public safety.

Republicans and their right-wing billionaire backers in Texas control all parts of state government. The Tribune is generally fairly progressive in its reporting, but even they fail to put the blame where it should be.

[barbtries]

13. a common problem everywhere.

"Congress isn't working" "Where's Congress?!"

I take the time to redirect the anger, rage, frustration, etc to republicans, because they are the reason for ALL of this.

[librechik]

9. They so desperately hate and revile government...

Have a good time Texas! You got exactly what you voted for.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

10. "I can tell you in hindsight..."...

...well, then what does that make you and the rest of the Texas legislature?

[barbtries]

12. i verified.

he's a republican. of course.

[carpetbagger]

22. Quite

I lived in Kerrville until last month. Our old Republican stepped down due to the wrath of Trump and Abbott over his vote against school vouchers (many rural conservatives didn't like the idea of undermining the local high school). This guy (Virdell, the current inc.)was a gun lobbyist who hates public schools.

Just for your armchair enjoyment. The mayor of Kerrville is a Republican who won on a moderately-progressive ticket called Kerrville Forward, the sheriff and county judge are fairly MAGA but less performatively than others.

[barbtries]

28. On a trip from FL to CA,

my brother and his wife stayed overnight in Kerrville.

The rain was just starting as they were headed out that morning.

republicans ruin everything.

[carpetbagger]

34. We still have Robert Earl Keen.

There's that.

[Torchlight]

14. Austin has been defunding the Texas infrastructure for 25 years

They don't get to say "no one saw this coming..." when reality has been shouting to them for a quarter century "it's coming! It's almost here!"

My guess: by the end of the week, they'll realize they can't effectively blame anyone else, thus weeping it under the rug a variant of the line "Well, at least it's over, let's not politicize this. We'll learn from our mistakes and change nothing"

This was precisely their reaction a few years ago when we had a troubling freeze for a week of so. It works for them. I don't expect it to change.

[Vinca]

15. Guess those 10 commandments in the classrooms didn't do the trick.

[Grins]

16. Misleading headline

This is more accurate:

Texas REPUBLICANS failed ….”

Because that’s the truth of it.

[Sogo]

17. Finally, getting to the bottom of it....

nt

[Grins]

18. "...my vote would probably be different now." - Virdell, a freshman REPUBLICAN

If the vote was a couple months ago, whatever infrastructure you voted against would not have been in place in time for this horror. So you chose to FAFO.

My question: Why did you vote ‘No?’ What sacred, magical-thinking Republican governing principle were you following?

[Upthevibe]

19. RandySF ..............

After some time, their malpractice needs to be extensively exposed where the masses (in TX) see the results their indifference.

And this isn't just the indifferences of Texans. We have our fair share of indifference here in CA and the both sides are the same mentality.

[moonshinegnomie]

20. time for lawmakers to face personal consequences

as far as im concerned the kerr county board starting with the county judge should be jailed for negligent homicide.
they are directly responsible for teh kids deaths.
and i'll point out that kerr county is VERY heavily MAGA. it votes 75% GOP every election.

[twodogsbarking]

21. You had me at

Texas lawmakers

[jgmiller]

24. No matter the party we mostly don't do the right/great thing anymore

There has always been pork and graft with politicians but they used to make themselves feel better about it by also paying for things like infrastructure and that kept most voters happy. Now they don't even care about doing the right thing and still voters keep electing them. We've taught them that they don't have to do the right thing and forget about great things.

[turbinetree]

25. Fucking day late and dollar short there Virdell..........did you look in the mirror and tell yourself that is some ways

you are kind of responsible........with that right wing Laissez-faire mentality..........you also can pound sand............and hey media can you now say that it was "REPUBLICANS" that voted to not pass the bill........they have the fucking majority...................seriously.......here's an idea Virdell have a town hall...........so that someone ....anyone.......... can ask you........have you looked in the mirror........or are you going to use the thoughts a prayers of the day BS..............

[Javaman]

27. all about the monies.

we have a humongous "rainy day fund" (no pun intended) but yet they sit on it.

it's fucking falling buckets and people are getting killed.

they'd be damned to crack it open.

fuckers.

[Cha]

30. Of course they Did.. Lazy greedy ass Abbott Magats.

[stollen]

31. Probably??

What would put you in the "definitely category? 200 dead?

[red dog 1]

32. Rep. Wes Virdell is a Tex Ass

[pansypoo53219]

33. texass scouting FAIL! this is the SECOND flash flood to kill kids. BE PREPARED. weather alert radios don't cost that

much. i have had wi art fairs close up faster.