A high-stakes congressional hearing in Texas has laid bare the state's inadequate preparedness for catastrophic flooding, as communities reel from the latest wave of destruction. The emergency session, convened amid rising floodwaters, heard harrowing testimony from climate scientists and emergency responders who warned of escalating risks due to climate change.
Systemic Failures Exposed
Officials faced tough questions about why early warning systems failed to protect vulnerable communities, with particular criticism directed at outdated infrastructure and delayed evacuation orders. "We're seeing the same mistakes repeated year after year," one climate expert told lawmakers.
Human Cost of Disaster
The hearing included emotional accounts from flood survivors, including a family who lost their home for the second time in three years. "How many times must we rebuild before someone fixes the root problems?" asked one tearful resident.
Climate Change Warnings Ignored
Scientific evidence presented at the hearing showed how warming temperatures are increasing both the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events. "What were once hundred-year floods are now happening every decade," warned a leading meteorologist.
The session concluded with promises of immediate aid and long-term planning reforms, but many attendees left skeptical about whether real change would follow this latest disaster.
