Texas Officials Criticized Over Deadly Flash Flood Warnings/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Texas officials face mounting criticism over whether enough warning was given before devastating Hill Country floods killed at least 43 people. Flash flood alerts were issued, but many say evacuations came too late for vulnerable camps and homes. Search continues for dozens still missing as questions swirl about emergency preparedness.
Quick Look
- At least 43 confirmed dead, 27 campers missing
- Officials defend actions, say rainfall totals unexpected
- Homeland Security vows weather technology improvements
- Criticism mounts over lack of siren or alert systems
- Search and rescue operations continue amid more rain threats
Texas Officials Face Scrutiny Over Deadly Flood Response
Deep Look
Before going to bed on the eve of the Fourth of July, Christopher Flowers checked the weather forecast while staying at a friend’s house along the Guadalupe River. Nothing seemed alarming.
Hours later, he woke up in darkness to electrical outlets sparking and ankle-deep water flooding the home. He and his family scrambled nine people into the attic to escape rising waters. Amid the chaos, emergency alerts buzzed on phones, though Flowers couldn’t recall exactly when they started.
“What they need is some kind of external system, like a tornado warning that tells people to get out now,” said Flowers, 44.
The flash floods that struck before dawn Friday have left at least 43 people dead in Kerr County alone, with dozens more missing, authorities said Saturday. Among those unaccounted for are 27 girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp on the river, where much of the devastation occurred.
As one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts in recent Texas memory unfolds, officials are facing growing criticism over whether residents and camps along the river were given enough warning—or told to evacuate sooner.
Early Warnings and Growing Alarm
The National Weather Service began issuing alerts Thursday afternoon, starting with a flood watch at 1:18 p.m. predicting up to 5-7 inches (12.7-17.8 cm) of rain. Overnight, the warnings grew increasingly dire, urging residents to seek higher ground.
At 4:03 a.m. Friday, the weather service issued an emergency warning citing “catastrophic damage and a severe threat to human life.”
Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist for AccuWeather, said the warnings should have spurred evacuations and other urgent measures.
“People, businesses, and governments should take action based on flash flood warnings that are issued, regardless of rainfall totals,” he said.
Local Leaders Defend Response
Local leaders insist they were caught off guard by the scale and speed of the deluge.
“We know we get rains. We know the river rises,” said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s top elected official. “But nobody saw this coming.”
Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said he went for a jog along the river at 4 a.m. and noticed nothing unusual. By 5:20 a.m., water levels had risen dramatically. “We almost weren’t able to get out of the park,” he said.
Rice also suggested residents may become desensitized to frequent weather warnings, which complicates emergency planning.
No Countywide Flood Alert System
Kelly acknowledged that years ago the county had explored installing a flood warning system along the river, similar to tornado sirens. But the project was ultimately shelved because of its cost.
“We’ve looked into it before… The public reeled at the cost,” Kelly said.
Kelly said he did not know what kind of emergency systems or evacuation plans the camps along the river, including Camp Mystic, had in place. “What I do know is the flood hit the camp first, and it came in the middle of the night,” he said.
Calls for Improved Technology
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Saturday that accurately predicting rainfall totals in such storms is difficult. She pledged that the Trump administration would prioritize modernizing National Weather Service technology to improve future warnings.
“We know that everyone wants more warning time, and that’s why we’re working to upgrade the technology that’s been neglected for far too long,” Noem said during a press conference with state and federal officials.
Weather Service Staffed Up for the Storm
Jason Runyen, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in New Braunfels, said the office had additional staff working through the storm. While a normal night shift might have two forecasters, up to five were on duty Friday.
“There were extra people in here that night, and that’s typical in every weather service office—you staff up for an event and bring people in on overtime and hold people over,” Runyen said.
A Community Left Searching for Answers
Meanwhile, families have returned to flood-ravaged areas like Camp Mystic to search for belongings and to await news of missing loved ones. Amid grief and frustration, many are asking why this disaster wasn’t prevented—or why more lives couldn’t have been saved.
“There’s going to be a lot of finger-pointing, a lot of second-guessing and Monday morning quarterbacking,” said Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, whose district includes Kerr County. “There’s a lot of people saying ‘why’ and ‘how,’ and I understand that.”
As search teams continue their work amid the threat of more rain, communities across the Texas Hill Country are left grappling not only with staggering loss but also with lingering questions about how the tragedy unfolded—and whether it could have been avoided.
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