Texas rep defends vote against emergency alert bill amid floods
Share this @internewscast.com


() A Texas state representative defended his vote against a $500 million emergency alert bill, saying it lacked transparency and would not have funded actual warning systems that could have helped prevent flood deaths.

Republican State Rep. Wes Virdell told that he opposed the legislation because “it creates a council that has no transparency” and was “actually exempt from transparency.” The bill would have established outdoor warning sirens and emergency alert systems.

“It didn’t actually have money for funding of the emergency warning systems. It was just the money for creating the commission is all it was,” Virdell said during the interview from flood-ravaged Kerr County, which he represents.

The floods struck early Friday morning, killing dozens of people including children at summer camps along the Guadalupe River. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning more than three hours before the disaster, but campers and residents along the river were unaware of the danger.

Virdell said warning sirens would have limited effectiveness in the remote area, noting he can only hear a siren 200 yards from his house when he’s outside. He said the real problem is poor cellphone service in the region.

“What we really need is more cell service in that area,” Virdell said, confirming there is no cell service near the affected camps.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Senate Approves Trump’s Pick to Head the CDC

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Susan Monarez to lead the Centers for…

Ensure Back-to-School Safety: Reduce Speed and Stay Vigilant in School Areas

SAVANNAH, Ga. () — As the back-to-school season arrives, approximately 2 million…

Escaping the Taliban’s Threat: Two Sisters Share Their Survival Story

Editor’s note: reporter Diana Falzone has reported extensively on the sisters’ escape…

Teen Endures ‘Severe Thermal Burns’ in Yellowstone National Park Incident

(NEXSTAR) Officials in Yellowstone National Park are reminding visitors to remain on…

Tsunami Warnings Downgraded to Advisories in Hawaii and Parts of Japan

A massive earthquake, among the strongest ever recorded, hit Russia’s Far East…

Youngkin Mandates Richmond to Compensate Wrongfully Imprisoned Man $5.8 Million or Face Withheld State Funds

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — After more than four decades behind bars for…

Trump Claims Epstein Recruited Young Female Employees from Mar-a-Lago Spa

President Trump claimed Tuesday that Jeffrey Epstein “took” young women working at…

Young Hero: 9-Year-Old from Champaign Rescues Great Grandma’s Life

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — There is a wave of gratitude flowing through…

Texas Resident Receives Prison Term for Stalking WNBA Athlete Caitlin Clark

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A 55-year-old Texas man who told police he was in…

Oklahoma Lawyer Detained on Suspicion of Attempted Kidnapping at Daycare Center

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – An Oklahoma-licensed attorney has been arrested for allegedly…

Key Details on the Cincinnati Fight Suspects

Graphic Warning: This story contains graphic topics that may be disturbing. Discretion…

Springfield Police Department apprehends 7 individuals in retail theft sting operation

In Springfield, Illinois, a two-day operation focused on curbing retail theft led…