safety
A year after deadly floods, Texas lawmakers haven’t addressed training for emergency coordinators
By Texas Tribune, Emily Foxhall at KSAT 12 (ABC) - San Antonio News
· July 3, 2026
· 6 min read
In legislative hearings after last year’s July 4 floods, the state’s emergency management chief made some recommendations to state lawmakers. They included empowering the agency to vet volunteers who show up after disasters and establishing clearer guidelines for local officials to decide whether...
Key takeaway “I do think it’s time that we as a state decide there needs to be a baseline for people that get appointed into that position,” Kidd told lawmakers at a July 23 hearing focused on the floods.
Why this matters in Alamo Heights News
The lack of required training for local emergency management coordinators in Texas is particularly concerning for communities like Alamo Heights , where flood risks are ever-present. As the state's emergency management chief, Nim Kidd, has emphasized, the absence of a baseline for training leaves counties and cities vulnerable to ineffective disaster response. In Bexar County, where Alamo Heights is located, the need for well-prepared emergency coordinators is crucial, given the area's history of flooding. The fact that two bills aimed at addressing this issue failed in the last legislative session means that local leaders must continue to rely on unstandardized training for their emergency management personnel. With the next legislative session approaching in January, Alamo Heights residents should be watching closely to see if state lawmakers will finally take action to establish minimum training requirements, bringing much-needed consistency and expertise to disaster response efforts in their community.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC) - San Antonio News . Alamo Heights News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC) - San Antonio News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 3, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC) - San Antonio News ·
Reading time: 6 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? In legislative hearings after last year’s July 4 floods, the state’s emergency management chief made some recommendations to state lawmakers. They included empowering the agency to vet volunteers who show up after disasters and establishing clearer guidelines for local officials to decide whether...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 3, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC) - San Antonio News and curated for Alamo Heights News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Texas Tribune, Emily Foxhall at KSAT 12 (ABC) - San Antonio News. To learn more about how Alamo Heights News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from Alamo Heights News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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