Texas Flood Aftermath: Officials Face Scrutiny as Search Continues
Unanswered Questions Linger After Deadly Holiday Floods
As the search continues for those missing after catastrophic floods along the Guadalupe River during the Fourth of July holiday, questions are mounting regarding the preparedness and response of Texas officials.
Extent of Preparation for the Holiday Threat
The degree to which Texas authorities prepared for the intense rainfall remains unclear. Although forecasts on July 3 indicated potential threats to the Texas Hill Country, where many were camping, specific actions taken by officials before the deluge have not been fully explained.
While the Texas Division of Emergency Management activated state resources two days before the flooding and increased readiness levels the following day, they have not offered details on the deployment of equipment and personnel.
Dan Patrick, the Texas Lieutenant Governor, stated that local officials were contacted by a regional coordinator prior to a briefing call on July 3, ensuring they were informed of the impending threat. “The message was sent,”
Patrick said.
However, Joe Herring, the Mayor of Kerrville—the county most affected—said he was unaware of any deployment of state emergency resources beforehand. “I’m not going to contradict the information you have but I will tell you, personally, I did not receive a telephone call,”
he stated.
Response Time Under Scrutiny
Details regarding the speed and effectiveness of the response by Texas authorities are still emerging, with Kerr County officials avoiding specific questions about timelines.
The National Weather Service issued a flash-flood warning at 1:14 a.m. on Friday, updating it to a flash-flood emergency at 4:03 a.m. Despite this, it remains unclear if emergency officials utilized CodeRED, the system intended to alert the public.
While the Kerrville Police Department and the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office posted warnings on Facebook around 5:15 a.m., an Associated Press review found no emergency alerts sent by Kerr County agencies until July 6.
Camp Mystic’s Emergency Plans Examined
Just two days before the deadly flooding, Texas inspectors approved Camp Mystic’s emergency plan. More than two dozen people died after floodwaters swept through the all-girls Christian summer camp.
Camps are required to create emergency plans that meet state requirements, including evacuation procedures. Camp Mystic has not responded to requests for comment on its emergency plan this week.
At the time of the flood, the camp hosted 557 campers and over 100 staff members between its Guadalupe and Cypress Lake locations. Experts note that the area is prone to flash floods, but the intensity and timing of this storm, occurring overnight, created catastrophic conditions.
Timeline for Answers Remains Unclear
Officials have not provided a timeline for when more information will be available, stating that the current focus remains on the search for the missing. Rob Kelly, Kerr County Judge, stated that officials “did not know this flood was coming.”
He has not spoken at any press conferences since July 5.
William “Dub” Thomas, Kerr County’s emergency management coordinator, has also remained out of the public eye, not participating in media briefings or addressing elected officials. Repeated requests for interviews sent to Kelly and Thomas have gone unanswered.
Larry Leitha, Kerr County Sheriff, has maintained that the priority is the ongoing response, but added that an “after action”
review will occur later. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), flash floods are the number one cause of weather-related deaths in Texas, highlighting the critical importance of effective emergency response planning (NOAA).
