Trump promised more federal money after FEMA denied individual assistance for Texas flood survivors. State officials have appealed FEMA’s decision.
Emily Foxhall
Emily Foxhall is The Texas Tribune's climate reporter. She joined the Tribune as an energy reporter in December 2022, focused on the state’s transition to green energy and the reliability of the power grid. She completed a year-long Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in May 2025. Emily is based in Houston, where she grew up. After a stint as a Tribune student intern in 2012, she began her career at the Los Angeles Times and its community papers. She later worked at the Houston Chronicle where her environmental reporting uncovered the effects of climate change and pollution on the region. She won several Texas Managing Editors awards and was part of the 2017 team that was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news coverage of Hurricane Harvey. Emily graduated from Yale University in 2013, where she studied English and was a Yale Journalism Scholar.
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Hill Country floods
Emergency weather alerts may be sent via satellite under new “Mystic Alerts Act”
Not everyone received cell alerts during the deadly flooding in 2025 in the Texas Hill Country. A new law is trying to fix that.
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Data Centers in Texas
Texas environmental agency shuts down online permit filing system after data center controversy
Texas environmental officials disabled an online filing system after watchdog groups raised concerns about the agency issuing permits related to data centers.
Posted in
Hill Country floods
FEMA won’t help Texans after July 2026 floods as agency tells states to lead disaster response
Disaster recovery experts say FEMA individual assistance funds are critical for residents to cover short-term costs. Gov. Greg Abbott is considering an appeal.
Posted in
Data Centers in Texas
Greg Abbott ordered a pause on data center permits. Critics say some plans still moved forward.
Public Citizen said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality hadn’t stopped issuing data center permits as required. The agency said it was complying with the directive.
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Congress
U.S. should err on the side of innovation in AI regulation, U.S. Rep. Arrington says
Former CEO of Indeed characterized the Texas congressman’s argument about needing to beat China as a false one.
Posted in
Environment
Federal disaster assistance approved for some Texas counties after July floods
The announced funding will help 19 counties pay for infrastructure repairs, but Texas is still waiting for help for individuals in the affected counties.
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Environment
Edouard causes flooding in East Texas, dumping more than 20 inches of rain in places
Forecasters warned that the risk of flooding could continue in East Texas into Thursday as the tropical storm’s remnants move slowly north.
Posted in
Environment
FEMA still hasn’t approved most disaster aid for Texans hit by this year’s July floods
The six-week wait for approval fits a pattern: On average, the Trump White House is taking longer than previous administrations to approve major disaster assistance, research shows.
Posted in
T-Squared
We investigated development rules after the deadly 2025 Hill Country flood. Then it flooded again.
A Tribune-ProPublica investigation found Texas lawmakers repeatedly failed to take action that could have protected residents in flood-prone areas.
