The Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Joint Committee met for the first time on Wednesday with the goal of improving flood warning systems, communications, allocating funding and preparing plans ahead of the next natural disaster.

Testimony will be heard from those in charge of managing rivers as well as emergency managers and first responders about the flash flooding that killed at least 135 people.

In response to the deadly floods in the Hill Country, lawmakers from both the House and Senate formed the Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Committee. Today they heard from state officials on the deadly July 4th floods.

The joint committee of state legislators assembled by Gov. Greg Abbott to address the flooding in the Hill Country and Central Texas is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, as part of the special session.

Texas lawmakers’ inaction on flood prevention often hits rural and economically disadvantaged communities the hardest, experts said.

Dr. Matthew Boyce, a professor in Health Policy and Management, said the study was conducted by way of a national survey in 2024. “About 3,000 people completed the survey, and really, what we were focused on was understanding what individuals were doing at the household, individual level to prepare for natural disasters,” Boyce said.

The Texas Capitol is buzzing as the legislative special session officially begins. Lawmakers were called back to Austin on orders from Governor Greg Abbott to address pressing state issues.

The joint House and Senate committee will first meet in Austin next week, then in Kerrville on July 31 to hear from Hill Country residents about their concerns.