US EditionTimeline Raises Questions over How Texas Officials Handled Warnings Before Deadly Floods
KERR COUNTY, TEXAS, JUL 09 – Flash floods at Camp Mystic caused over 100 deaths including children, with more than 160 still missing as rescue efforts continue, officials said.
- During pre-dawn hours on July Fourth, flash floods from the Guadalupe River overwhelmed Camp Mystic, killing over 100 people including children, with survivors trapped in pajamas.
- Heavy rainfall in Kerr County, with flood watches warning of 1–7 inches, caused rapid river rises and unpredictable flash floods at Camp Mystic early July 4.
- USGS gauge data shows the Guadalupe River peaked at 34.29 feet at 6:45 a.m., after rising rapidly overnight, indicating extreme flood severity.
- Despite over 160 people missing and 23 girls unaccounted for, officials face criticism over delayed alerts and response efforts, highlighting accountability concerns.
- Questions remain about local alert activations amid a 'black box' of responses, with officials deflecting questions on preparedness despite federal flood watches issued before the floods.
42 Articles
42 Articles
Why plans for a warning system fell apart in Kerr County
The search for bodies continued nearly a week after deadly flooding in Texas. With 121 people confirmed dead and at least 161 still missing, officials there are facing scrutiny. The National Weather Service issued several watches and warnings before midnight on July 3, but local officials appeared unaware of the catastrophe until later in the morning. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Neena Satija.
Austin firefighters union votes on 'no confidence' resolution against AFD chief after flood response accusations
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Firefighters Association moved forward Thursday with a membership vote on its confidence in Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker. That vote comes after AFA President Bob Nicks accused Baker of delaying deployment of AFD resources to Kerr County ahead of catastrophic flooding over the Independence Day weekend. Previous: Austin Fire Chief defends response after accusations of delaying help for Kerr County flooding Baker i…
Kerr County officials waited 90 minutes to send emergency alert after requested, dispatch audio shows
At 4:22 a.m. on Friday, as Texas' Hill Country began to flood, a firefighter in Ingram – just upstream from Kerrville – asked the Kerr County Sheriff's Office to alert nearby residents, according to audio obtained by ABC affiliate KSAT.…
As the Texas floodwaters rose, one indispensable voice was silent
When a reporter demanded to know why the summer camps along the Guadalupe River weren’t evacuated before its waters reached their deadly peak on July 4, Rob Kelly, the highest-ranking local official, had a simple answer: “No one knew this kind of flood was coming.”
There’s Always Going to be a Conspiracy Theory
There are plenty of legitimate questions swirling around the devastating flooding in Texas last weekend that left at least 100 people dead. They include questions about emergency alert funding decisions made by Texas’ Republican state legislature and about cuts to federal agencies implemented by the Trump administration that may have affected how the emergency response was handled. They also include questions raised in recent reporting from the …
Warnings gave 3 hours, 21 minutes to save lives in Texas. What happened then remains unclear. • Daily Montanan
The National Weather Service's West Gulf River Forecast Center in Forth Worth helps other offices like the Austin/San Antonio office predict floods. (Photo by Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune).Three hours and 21 minutes. That’s how much time passed from when the National Weather Service sent out its first flash flood warning for part of Kerr County to when the first flooding reports came in from low-lying water crossings. The weather service s…
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