Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
HOUSTON (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a $1.6 billion storm and flood resilience plan nearly two years after Hurricane Harvey battered parts of the state.
Abbott signed the bill Thursday in Houston, where the Category 4 hurricane dumped more than 50 inches (130 centimeters) of rain. Harvey caused 68 deaths and an estimated $125 billion in damage.
Abbott says the storm cleanup and readiness package will mitigate damage from the next catastrophic storm. A report from Abbott's office last year warned that powerful natural disasters will become more frequent in Texas, citing a changing climate.
Abbott has said it's "impossible" for him to say whether manmade global warming is to blame.
Last week, President Donald Trump signed a $19.1 billion disaster relief bill that releases recovery money for Texas.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
