Texas lawmakers gathered this week for a special legislative session to discuss emergency procedures and early warning systems following the deadly July 4 flash floods . Gov. Greg Abbott called the special session in the wake of the flooding, which killed more than 130 people in Hill Country. "We must ensure better preparation in the future," Abbott said in a statement . House Bill 165, filed on Tuesday, aims to create a model guide for local officials to follow regarding disaster response and recovery. Aspects of response such as contracting for debris removal; obtaining federal disaster funding; determining availability and construction of short-term and long-term housing and obtaining assistance from volunteer organizations were addressed in the bill. The session began Monday with a cal

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