Texas is woefully unprepared for a national emergency that would overwhelm the federal government’s response. A modest effort now could save thousands of lives in a future disaster.

Key points

– The federal government has abdicated its civil defense responsibilities—Texas should fill the gap.

– In the event of a major war or significant natural disaster affecting the nation, Texas may be on its own for a time.

– With a modest amount of preparation at a cost of less than $100 million, Texas could largely mitigate probable risks in critical areas such as:

·                The electric grid.

·                The supply of vital medicines.

·                The financial network.

– Promoting individual preparedness among Texans could also be crucial to the state.