texas
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Texas flooding puts scaled-back FEMA under scrutiny
Flash floods in Texas that killed more than 100 people over the Fourth of July weekend are testing the federal government’s new, limited role in disaster response under President Trump.
In short:
- President Trump declared a major disaster in Texas after deadly floods, unlocking Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aid despite his recent push to dismantle or downsize the agency.
- FEMA’s staff has shrunk by about 25% since 2024, and its responsibilities are being offloaded to states, even as extreme weather becomes more frequent and costly.
- Critics warn that reduced federal coordination could lead to inequities, especially for smaller states that depend heavily on national emergency funding and support.
Key quote:
“We, as a federal government, don’t manage these disasters; the state does.”
— Kristi Noem, secretary of Homeland Security
Why this matters:
Natural disasters are hitting harder and more often, but the federal government is scaling back its role in emergency response. FEMA was designed to mobilize resources that states alone often can’t afford — search and rescue, medical teams, flood insurance, and rebuilding funds. Without that support, the burden falls on state and local governments that vary widely in resources, capacity, and infrastructure. In wealthy, populous states like Texas, that may still leave gaps; in smaller or poorer states, it could mean entire regions go without adequate aid.
Read more: Trump’s FEMA cuts leave flood-prone cities scrambling for aid
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Texas flood disaster reveals rising human cost of climate-fueled extreme weather
The July 4 flash flood in Texas killed at least 109 people, including children at a summer camp, and highlighted how climate change is accelerating catastrophic weather while federal protections unravel.
In short:
- A rare confluence of two saturated storm systems dumped 20 inches of rain on south central Texas, causing the Guadalupe River to rise over 26 feet in 45 minutes and kill more than 100 people.
- Local authorities failed to install warning systems along the river despite past flooding and known vulnerabilities, and federal emergency services are being cut under the Trump administration.
- The administration has also slashed climate research and weather forecasting budgets, eliminated disaster cost reporting, and canceled key programs aimed at transitioning the country to cleaner energy.
Why this matters:
Climate-driven disasters are becoming deadlier, more erratic, and more expensive. In Texas, the July 4 flood joins a string of recent extreme weather events that show how warming oceans, disrupted air currents, and increased atmospheric moisture can converge into sudden catastrophe. Scientists warn these aren’t isolated events but symptoms of a deepening global crisis. Yet the federal government is retreating from scientific forecasting, emergency preparedness, and decarbonization efforts — leaving local communities exposed.
Related: New poll shows Americans bracing for more dangerous weather events
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Texas growth and lax rules put more homes in harm’s way from flood disasters
As deadly floods strike Central Texas, experts say outdated maps, weak regulations, and rapid development are funneling millions of Texans into flood-prone areas with few safeguards.
Joshua Fechter and Paul Cobler report for The Texas Tribune.
In short:
- Texas counties lack the authority to enforce building codes or zoning rules that could limit construction in flood-prone areas, leaving roughly five million Texans exposed to severe flood risk.
- Flood plain development has continued as population growth pushes builders to cheaper, unregulated land, particularly in rural and scenic areas like the Hill Country.
- Experts warn that stronger state oversight is needed, as current floodplain maps are outdated, hazard mitigation plans are lacking, and political resistance hampers tighter local rules.
Key quote:
“Fundamentally, disasters are a human choice. We can choose to develop in relation to high risk, or we can choose not to. We can stay out of harm's way.”
— Robert Paterson, associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture
Why this matters:
Floods are becoming more frequent and intense as climate change accelerates atmospheric moisture levels and rainfall extremes. In Texas, where individual property rights often trump regulation, construction continues along rivers and lowlands with little oversight. As a result, more people are living in mobile homes and other vulnerable structures in areas that were once natural flood buffers. Without modern hazard mapping and statewide floodplain planning, these communities are left exposed. Weak local regulations and political fear of curbing development slow the adoption of safety standards. This puts public health and safety at risk, strains emergency services, and increases long-term infrastructure costs after disasters hit.
Related: Flood deaths rise in Texas as Trump slashes disaster preparedness and weather forecasting
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Schumer calls for investigation into Texas flood response
Sen. Chuck Schumer is calling for a federal investigation into whether staff vacancies at National Weather Service offices in Texas worsened the outcome of the July 4 flash floods that killed scores of people.
In short:
- Schumer sent a letter to the Commerce Department’s inspector general asking for an investigation into whether staffing gaps at National Weather Service offices in San Antonio and San Angelo contributed to delays or deficiencies in flood warnings during the deadly storm.
- Critical positions — including a warning coordination meteorologist, a science officer, and a senior hydrologist — were vacant at the time, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to coordinate with local emergency responders.
- Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas echoed concerns, noting that limited personnel may have hampered timely flood forecasting and public safety communication.
Key quote:
“When you have flash flooding, there’s a risk that you won’t have the personnel to make that — do that analysis, do the predictions in the best way.”
— Joaquin Castro (D-Texas)
Why this matters:
The National Weather Service is the backbone of the nation's severe weather alert system, especially during fast-moving disasters like flash floods. When its local offices are understaffed, critical decisions — like when to issue warnings or urge evacuations — can be delayed or missed entirely. The July 4 floods in Texas struck with little notice, sweeping through homes and even a children’s summer camp. As extreme weather events grow more frequent and intense, gaps in forecasting capacity can turn risky situations into deadly ones.
Related:
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Floods in Texas and around the world are getting worse as the planet heats up
Severe deluges like the one that killed dozens in Texas over the holiday weekend are hitting harder and more frequently, fueled by climate change and made deadlier by outdated infrastructure and shrinking climate research budgets.
In short:
- Warming air can hold more moisture, which means storms — especially in flood-prone areas like Central Texas — are dumping far more rain in shorter periods.
- The Guadalupe River recently rose from three to 34 feet in 90 minutes, in a storm so rare it had a 0.1% chance of occurring in any given year.
- While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plans to update its rainfall predictions to reflect climate change, the Trump administration has cut key climate science positions, proposed gutting the research budget, and dismissed the hundreds of experts working on the 2028 edition of the National Climate Assessment, which helps local communities prepare for weather extremes.
Why this matters:
Warmer air holds more water, which means when it rains, it pours — especially in places like Central Texas, where dramatic terrain funnels water into towns, roads, and homes with terrifying speed. Rainfall prediction models are based on the past, not the present climate, and climate science funding keeps getting slashed. So as storms get stronger, our ability to prepare for them is weakening.
Read more: Severe flooding increasingly cutting people off from health care
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Exxon must pay $14.25 million over Baytown air pollution as Supreme Court declines appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court let stand a $14.25 million penalty against ExxonMobil for more than 16,000 Clean Air Act violations at its Baytown, Texas, petrochemical plant.
In short:
- The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear ExxonMobil’s appeal leaves intact a ruling from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the $14.25 million civil penalty for pollution at the Baytown facility from 2005 to 2013.
- The lawsuit was filed in 2010 by Environment Texas and the Sierra Club, representing local residents exposed to over 10 million pounds of air pollutants, including carcinogens and ozone-forming chemicals.
- Plaintiffs say this is the largest penalty ever awarded in a citizen-led Clean Air Act case and argue it reinforces the public's right to hold polluters accountable in federal court.
Key quote:
"It's been a hard-fought battle for 16 years, and the citizens stuck it out all the way, and justice has prevailed."
— David Nicholas, attorney for the plaintiffs
Why this matters:
Petrochemical plants like Exxon’s Baytown complex emit volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and other hazardous air pollutants that can harm human health and the environment. These emissions contribute to smog formation, respiratory illnesses, and long-term cancer risks for nearby communities. Baytown sits in a heavily industrial corridor east of Houston, where residents — often lower-income and people of color — live in close proximity to refineries and chemical facilities. Chronic exposure to air pollution in these areas has been linked to higher rates of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. When enforcement of environmental laws fails or is delayed, the burden of pollution falls on those least able to avoid or address it, deepening environmental injustice.
Related:
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Texas expands funding for plugging oil and gas wells as costs and risks rise
Texas lawmakers approved $100 million in new funding to seal abandoned oil and gas wells, but advocates warn that weak policies will keep adding to the problem.
In short:
- Texas will spend an additional $100 million over two years to plug orphaned oil and gas wells, aiming to seal 1,700 wells annually, or about 20% of the state’s known total.
- The average cost of plugging each well rose over 50% from 2019 to 2023, driven by blowouts and complex emergencies, especially in the Permian Basin.
- A new law, SB 1150, requires plugging of wells inactive for 15 years, but loopholes and lenient extensions could limit its impact without further rule changes.
Key quote:
“We’re going to get another two years down the road in the next budget cycle and there are going to be more orphans. The Legislature has not really seen the picture of how extensive this problem is.”
— Schuyler Wight, Permian Basin landowner
Why this matters:
Orphaned and inactive oil and gas wells leak methane and can contaminate groundwater, posing a growing threat to public health and the environment. These wells often go unmonitored after companies abandon them, leaving taxpayers on the hook for cleanup. In Texas alone, nearly 9,000 orphan wells and over 150,000 inactive wells remain at risk of turning into long-term liabilities. Some have already blown out, shooting saltwater and gases into the air and soil. As plugging costs soar and aging infrastructure fails, the risk of environmental harm grows. Without stronger regulation and enforcement, the number of dangerous, abandoned wells will likely continue to outpace efforts to close them, even as federal policy pivots to increased fossil fuel production.
Read more: Orphan oil wells threaten U.S. aquifers with rising contamination risks
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