Bloomberg Talks Former Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office George Prescott Bush
Jul 12, 2025
George P. Bush discusses Texas' urgent need for an early warning system to combat natural disasters. He emphasizes improving infrastructure and collaborative planning to tackle climate challenges. The conversation dives into the complexities of disaster recovery, including the bureaucratic hurdles and the importance of community resilience. Bush critiques FEMA's inefficiencies and advocates for more streamlined processes to better support Texans in times of crisis.
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Early Warning System Needed
- Texas needs legislation to create an early detection and warning system for natural disasters.
- Preparing before disasters can save lives, supported by a proposed half-billion dollar legislative package.
Cost-Effectiveness of Mitigation
- Texas experiences the most natural disasters of any U.S. state since 1980, demanding robust infrastructure solutions.
- Investing in mitigation is cheaper and smarter than responding after disasters hit, especially with climate change increasing violent storms.
Long Recovery After Disasters
- After Hurricane Harvey, debris cleanup took over a year, involving federal waivers and all Texas landfills being overwhelmed.
- In Texas floods, recovery will be similarly long, with ongoing search and rescue and thousands of volunteers aiding affected communities.