Texas strong

By now, we’ve all read the headlines, watched the devastating footage, and heard harrowing accounts of the catastrophic flood that overtook the Texas Hill Country early in the morning on the Fourth of July. In mere hours, the Guadalupe River rose by nearly 30 feet and tore through parts of Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, and communities along the path, quickly becoming one of the most destructive severe weather events our state has ever experienced. In Kerr County alone, more than 100 people lost their lives, including children at Camp Mystic, and some are still missing.

This flooding caused unimaginable damage to neighborhoods, businesses, and camps in the Hill Country and throughout Central Texas, but the aftershocks of this tragedy – the anguish, grief, and heartbreak – have been felt by Texans in every corner of our state. Some of us lost a loved one, many of us are friends, neighbors, or coworkers with someone who knew a victim, and all of us have been brought to our knees in prayer and mourning.

But even in the darkest times, Texans come together to serve one another in a powerful way. In the aftermath of this tragedy, we have witnessed example after example of Texans helping Texans.

Countless prayer vigils and donation drives have been organized across the state in honor of those who lost their lives in the flooding. Fundraisers have raised tens of thousands of dollars for everything from a fund in memory of Mystic camper Hadley Hanna, to money for Lyle and Sue Glenna, a couple from Minnesota who managed to use their car horns to alert others at their campground to the incoming flood, likely saving lives. There wasn’t a single spot left in the parking lot at the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas for the vigil held there, and University of Texas (UT) students gathered at the UT Tower in Austin to honor Chloe Childress and Katherine Ferruzzo, Camp Mystic counselors and incoming freshmen who lost their lives in the flooding.

We’ve also seen remarkable heroism from our first responders who rushed into the rising water to rescue and recover those swept away by the river’s current or headed toward Camp Mystic, where hundreds of young girls were stranded. One of those heroes was U.S. Coast Guard swimmer Scott Ruskan, who saved 165 young campers and staffers during his first-ever rescue mission. Following the evacuations, Ruskan recalled the courage of the young women he helped, saying they were “so brave and tough, that it made me a better rescuer.” Stories like these capture the true spirit of Texans: even on our most difficult days, we face adversity with strength and resiliency.

Now that the flood has subsided, conversations on how to prevent another tragedy like this have started. This week, state lawmakers have returned to the Texas Capitol in Austin for a special session to address Texas’ flood warning systems, emergency communication protocol, and overall natural disaster preparedness. On the federal level, I have begun to identify legislative efforts that might help mitigate the damage and improve emergency preparation should a similar disaster strike. I am looking at preventative measures in three main areas: ways to improve notification to at-risk individuals no matter what time of day, ways to facilitate improved emergency training for camp staff and counselors, and ways to improve real-time emergency alert infrastructure, especially in rural areas.

As a lifelong Texan and father of two, my heart breaks for the families who have lost their children, and I encourage all Texans and Americans to continue praying for our state as we sort through the aftermath of this 100-year flooding event and begin the process of healing, recovery, and finding solutions for the future.

Texas is no stranger to natural disasters. While I was in the Hill Country earlier this month, I was reminded of a saying I heard years ago following another tragedy in our state: “Being a Texan doesn’t just describe where you’re from, it describes who your family is.” No matter the circumstance, and no matter how many miles away they may be from it, Texans show up for one another, and I’m proud of the way our communities have united in support of each other this month. Together, we are Texas Strong.

To Texans in the Hill Country, Central Texas, and other affected areas, rest assured that I will continue working to ensure every necessary resource is made available, and with the help of our fellow Texans lending their time and talents, we will rebuild even stronger than before.