US EditionKerr County Officials Responsible for Early Warning Were Asleep or Absent During Deadly July 4 Flood
KERR COUNTY, TEXAS, JUL 31 – Lawmakers scrutinize Kerr County flood response and funding gaps after deadly July floods killed at least 137 people across Central and West Texas, prompting calls for better coordination.
- On July 31, 2025, the Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Committee, 18-member panel, held its second meeting, inviting 25 officials including Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly and San Antonio Fire Chief Valerie Frausto to review flood response efforts that killed at least 137 people July 4-5.
- On July 23 in Austin, lawmakers questioned state agencies and river authorities for nearly 12 hours about floods that killed at least 136 people, including 27 youths.
- Reprimanding the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, lawmakers criticized its decision not to raise taxes or accept a zero-interest loan for a warning system in 2024, which Tara Bushnoe called insufficient and lawmakers found extremely disturbing.
- Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said the state lacks policies to ensure local emergency teams receive urgent warnings or are prepared to evacuate residents, and Sen. Charles Schwertner highlighted a disconnect in warning call responsibilities.
- In the coming days, House and Senate lawmakers plan separate hearings to consider flood legislation since the joint committee cannot vote on bills.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Rural Texas county’s top leaders were asleep, out of town during early hours of flood crisis
The testimony, which came during a joint House and Senate panel of lawmakers who visited the hard-hit Texas Hill Country, was the first indication of the whereabouts of the trio of men who were charged with preparing for the impending weather.
Top Kerr County leaders asleep, 'too late' to issue flood evacuation
KERRVILLE, Texas (KXAN) -- Kerr County leaders are facing mounting scrutiny over their handling of the Fourth of July flooding. On Thursday, the questions came from state lawmakers who traveled to the flood zone for a special session hearing. Inside the packed Hill County Youth Event Center, which has been taken over by emergency responders, pointed comments were directed at local leaders. 'You were nowhere to be found' "Everyone was here that d…
Kerr County's top leaders were asleep, out of town during initial hours of Texas flood crisis
Two top leaders in a rural Texas county were asleep and a third was out of town in the initial hours of a catastrophic flood that came barreling through the region, causing widespread destruction and killing more than 130 people earlier this month, according to testimony at a joint House and Senate hearing.
‘You weren’t here’: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick questions Kerr County judge’s whereabouts during deadly floods
As catastrophic floods on the Fourth of July swept through the Texas Hill Country, killing more than 100 people, one Kerr County official told lawmakers he was at the lake while another said he was sick in bed.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 78% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
