AUSTIN, Texas -- A new report by Gov. Greg Abbott’s Commission to Rebuild Texas reviews the state’s response to Hurricane Harvey.
- Report reviews to Hurricane Harvey'
- Report in 200 pages long
- Recommends making management, infrastructure improvements
The Eye of the Storm report touts the state's emergency management agencies for their organization and readiness, but goes over areas of improvement to better help Texans get back on their feet months after the disaster. Staff from the Texas A&M University System worked on the report, which calls Harvey a warning that Texans must heed.
“This report is a roadmap for Texas and the legislature as well as local communities going forward,” Abbott, said.
Among many recommendations, the report details the importance of creating debris management, hardening the state’s infrastructure and facilities, streamlining communication between local and state officials, and simplifying the application process for assistance.
Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp led the work behind the nearly 200-page report. He emphasized the need to train local authorities in disaster recovery.
“What we want to make sure is, is that when those winds die down from a hurricane or tornado or wherever, that the recovery begins immediately and that there are people there that know everything to do,” Sharp said.
The report uses the term "changing climate." When asked whether he believes man-made climate change is affecting Texas, Abbott said he is not a scientist. "Eye of the Storm" comes less than a month after a White House report warned that natural disasters are worsening because of global warming.