People use umbrellas as they battle wind and rain amid a storm on August 09, 2024 in New York City. Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency as NY is experiencing remnants of post-tropical hurricane Debby.

Hurricane Debby, seen on the right in this weather satellite photo, made landfall in northern Florida.

A Florida National Guard vehicle drives through a flooded street caused by the rain and storm surge from Hurricane Debby on August 05, 2024, in Cedar Key, Florida. Hurricane Debby brings rain storms and high winds along Florida’s Big Bend area.

A lineman tends to fallen power lines in the East End neighborhood of Houston, days after Hurricane Beryl made landfall, on Thursday, July 11, 2024 in Houston.

Linemen tend to fallen power lines in the East End neighborhood of Houston, days after Hurricane Beryl made landfall, on Thursday, July 11, 2024 in Houston.

Public Utility Commission of Texas Commissioners Courtney Hjaltman, from rear left, Chairman Thomas Gleeson, Lori Cobos and Kathleen Jackson speak to a leadership team from CenterPoint Energy about Hurricane Beryl during a PUC meeting Thursday, July 25, 2024, in the Commissioners Hearing Room at the William B. Travis State Office Building in Austin.

Texas and Florida both experienced strong Category 1 hurricanes. One state reeled for a week, while the other healed within hours.

This tale of two Republican-led states proves that elected officials make a difference in whether they prioritize public safety or crony capitalism.

Houston’s inability to withstand a weak hurricane is the latest proof the electric grid remains broken. A place where winter storms black out most of the state, hurricanes can cripple the largest........

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