Gov. Abbott declares emergency to get more flood-detection funding
Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide emergency Thursday in response to recent flooding around the state, a move intended to free up millions of dollars to enhance Texas’ flood-preparation efforts.
State officials haven’t decided which of the flood-prone areas around the state will be first in line for the money. The governor’s office announced it will be spent on measures such as more rain gauges, better early warning systems and risk evaluation — a series of improvements for which Abbott and state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, had secured funding earlier this year, only to see it held up.
The recent rainstorms “have caused massive flooding throughout Texas, placing the safety and economic prosperity of Texans at severe risk,” according to a letter from Abbott’s office. The letter also states that 20 Texans died in this year’s Memorial Day weekend floods, after which 122 counties were declared state disaster areas and an additional 113 were designated federal disaster areas.
“Immediate funding is needed to create a sophisticated technological network of water stream gauges and enhance floodplain management planning,” according to the letter, which was sent to Comptroller Glenn Hegar, the state’s top financial officer.
Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/governor-abbott-declares-emergency-to-get-more-flo/npG4Y/
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