Hundreds of people have gathered in Kerrville today as state lawmakers host a legislative hearing in the Hill Country town hardest hit by the July 4 floods.
Lawmakers are expecting to hear testimony from residents and local officials about the state and local response to the flooding in Central Texas that killed at least 135 people. Gov. Greg Abbott has asked lawmakers to introduce legislation during the current special session to address concerns raised by the floods, including how residents were warned about the rising Guadalupe River and how quickly they received aid.
Mike Richards arrived at the hearing 30 minutes early to make sure he was able to testify. He told The Texas Newsroom that after the flood he found 10 bodies on land he owns in Center Point, an unincorporated area in Kerr County.
"I didn't get no help from the state or the government," he said. "FEMA's a joke and it needs to be abolished. The state is broken."
This story will be updated throughout the day as the hearing progresses.
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