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 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.
Legislation has been signed to better prepare the state against future disasters and provide relief for Harvey-impacted areas. https://t.co/KwYguItSl5 #txlege pic.twitter.com/jv20QVfpRt
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) June 13, 2019
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.