Texas Watch

08/07/2025

"After a slow but deadly start to hurricane season, the Atlantic Ocean is turning more active as the typical peak of activity approaches in September."

Weather patterns will become more conducive to tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic during mid-to-late August.

08/05/2025

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued multiple recalls last week, including notices for more than 300,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles."

The NHTSA issued multiple recalls last week, including notices for vehicles from Ford, Lincoln and Kia.

07/30/2025

"Advocates of the CSB say it is a vital independent system for gathering information, launching investigations and developing safety recommendations for the petrochemical industry. Without it, the work would fall to other agencies, industry workers or even residents — leaving a hole that the board had plugged."

Amid increasingly intense weather, the Chemical Safety Board is the lone independent agency watching over the Gulf Coast’s petrochemical corridor.

07/24/2025

"The mission of this website is to bring flood information into an accessible format for all Texans."

But rain events large enough to end a drought, as well as smaller events, can lead to flooding. On September 9, 1921, an intense but short-lived downpour occurred in Williamson County. The small town of Thrall received more than 36 inches of rain in 18 hours, setting a national record that remains t...

07/22/2025

"Ford is recalling more than 694,000 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles because the fuel injector may crack and leak, which may cause a fire."

Ford is recalling more than 694,000 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles because the fuel injector may crack and leak, which may cause a fire

07/16/2025

"How sirens can help: They can be set up to trigger automatically if water reaches a certain height, which could require additional investment in flood gauges. This can be effective because it doesn’t require someone to be awake or rely on a judgment call on when to trigger them. There are also sirens that blare voice messages about impending danger."

While sirens can help in areas with shaky cell service, experts say officials also need to consider alert fatigue and provide education on what to do in an emergency.

07/15/2025

"With hundreds confirmed dead or still missing, questions remain about the local response to flood warnings. Meanwhile, lawmakers will weigh measures to mitigate future disasters."

With hundreds confirmed dead or still missing, questions remain about the local response to flood warnings. Meanwhile, lawmakers will weigh measures to mitigate future disasters.

07/14/2025

"Even homes in a 'minimal flood hazard' area on FEMA flood maps have flooded. During heavy rain in North Texas in 2022, nine inches fell within 24 hours. Consumers told NBC 5 Responds they had insurance, but learned the damage to their home wasn’t covered because they didn’t have separate flood insurance policies."

Insurance industry experts say we're underinsured when it comes to flooding, and the latest disaster highlights an insurance gap for many Texans.

07/11/2025

"Federal records show Hope Trans operates 193 trucks and employs 195 drivers. Of the company’s 267 inspections, no critical violations were found — but a troubling pattern emerged: drivers were repeatedly cited for exceeding allowable hours."

Of the company's 267 inspections, no critical violations were found, but a troubling pattern emerged.

07/10/2025

See what you accomplished at the Texas Legislature this session!

Legislative advertising paid for by Ware Wendell, Executive Director, Texas Watch, P.O. Box 42198, Austin, TX 78704.

07/08/2025

"FEMA is supporting state and local recovery efforts for Texas homeowners and renters in Kerr County who sustained damage from the severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred July 2, 2025, and continuing."

AUSTIN – FEMA is supporting state and local recovery efforts for Texas homeowners and renters in Kerr County who sustained damage from the severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred July 2, 2025, and continuing. Financial assistance is available to eligible homeowners and renter...

07/07/2025

"Organizations across Texas are collecting donations to support the response to Central Texas flooding."

Organizations across Texas are collecting donations to support the response to Central Texas flooding.