By David McClendon, Center for Social Measurement and Evaluation
Hurricane Harvey deeply affected the lives and education of many Texas children. In the days after Hurricane Harvey made landfall, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster proclamation for 58 counties along the Gulf Coast that bore the brunt of the storm’s winds and rain.
This 58-county region includes nearly 3 million children. Over a million of these children live in the Greater Houston area, where some of the worst flooding occurred.
Harvey’s massive impact – including 33 trillion gallons of rain – will require a massive and sustained response from our state officials.
More than four-in-ten (44%) Texas state House representatives and nearly six-in-ten (58%) Texas state senators represent districts in the 58-county region affected by the storm.
Harvey’s impact has been felt on both sides of the political aisle with 56% of the legislators from affected districts being Republican. Below is a full list of the representatives and senators representing the 58-county disaster region:
CHILDREN AT RISK has asked Governor Greg Abbott to immediately call a Special Session of the Texas Legislature that includes a specific call to protect children and to support the utilization of the state’s Rainy-Day Fund to address their needs.