Deadly floods in Texas Hill Country have claimed at least 91 lives, including 27 young girls at Camp Mystic, prompting Governor Greg Abbott to declare a Day of Prayer while simultaneously announcing plans for a special legislative session to address flood preparedness.
The devastating floods that swept through Central Texas over the July 4th weekend have become one of the state’s deadliest natural disasters in recent memory. “Prayer works,” Abbott said Sunday morning, as the state grappled with the shocking death toll and widespread destruction.
On Tuesday, the governor pivoted from spiritual solace to policy action, announcing a special legislative session beginning July 21, 2025. “We’re going to address every aspect of this storm to make sure we have in place the systems that are needed to prevent deadly flooding events like this in the future,” Abbott declared at a press conference in hard-hit Kerr County.
Dual Approach to Disaster
The governor’s response has followed two parallel tracks. First came the spiritual appeal, with Abbott proclaiming Sunday, July 6, as a Day of Prayer. “Texans are known for their faith, strength, and resilience,” he stated. “Even as floodwaters raged, neighbors rushed in to rescue, comfort, and bring hope. In times of loss, we turn to God for comfort, healing, and strength.”
That proclamation drew criticism from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which argued the governor was promoting religion over science-based disaster preparedness. “Your prayer proclamation does nothing to help those currently suffering or prevent similar devastation in the future,” the organization wrote in a letter to Abbott.
Days later, the governor’s office renewed a disaster proclamation for the flooding that began on July 2, affecting numerous counties including Bandera, Bexar, Burnet, and Caldwell, among others. The proclamation gives state agencies broader authority to respond to ongoing emergencies.
Pattern of Disaster Management
Is this Abbott’s first rodeo with disaster proclamations? Hardly. The governor has issued multiple proclamations in recent months, including one for wildfire conditions that was renewed on January 12, 2025, covering numerous counties facing elevated fire weather conditions. That proclamation was originally issued in October 2024.
The governor has also maintained ongoing disaster declarations related to border security, listing affected counties including Aransas, Atascosa, and Bandera. And just last December, Abbott amended and renewed another fire weather conditions disaster proclamation.
The upcoming special session represents a shift toward more concrete action. Lawmakers are expected to consider legislation to improve early warning systems and infrastructure in flood-prone areas, particularly in the Hill Country region that was devastated by the recent floods.
For the families of the 91 confirmed dead, including the parents of the 27 young campers at Camp Mystic, these policy discussions come too late. But for a state increasingly battered by extreme weather events, the question remains whether prayer and policy together can prevent the next disaster from claiming so many lives.
