Texas officials are encountering severe criticism over their delayed emergency alerts during catastrophic flash floods that struck Kerrville on July 4th, leading to horrific consequences. The floods, fueled by 100 billion gallons of rain, have resulted in at least 120 confirmed deaths and over 160 individuals reported missing, prompting urgent demands for accountability.
At a recent press conference, Community Services Officer Jonathan Lamb from the Kerrville Police disclosed he lacked information regarding a possible failure in police radio communications. This revelation follows a previous tense exchange where reporters pressed officials concerning gaps in emergency alerts. Early on the morning of July 4th, the Guadalupe River's water levels surged dangerously high after heavy rainfall, catching many residents off guard.
Reports indicate that a firefighter upstream requested the Kerr County Sheriff's Office to send out urgent notifications about the rising floodwaters at approximately 4:22 AM. Alarmingly, residents did not receive an alert until nearly six hours later. The faulty communication arose as Kerr County officials were reportedly busy with other priorities, despite early warnings of the rising water.
Sheriff Larry Leitha confessed he was first alerted about the dire situation around four to five hours post the initial warning. He stated they were focused on recovery efforts and locating the missing individuals, with over 160 still unaccounted for, including campers from a local summer camp.
Despite the National Weather Service and the Texas Division of Emergency Management issuing weather alerts prior to the storm, many residents remained unaware of the flooding's severity due to poor cell service and public desensitization to emergency alerts.
In light of this disaster, President Donald Trump has signed a federal disaster declaration to aid Texas, activating FEMA to assist in recovery efforts. Over 2,100 responders, supported by helicopters, drones, and specialized search teams, are engaged in rescuing and recovering victims from the rubble of debris.
Kerr County officials are left grappling with the consequences of their failure to communicate effectively during an emergency, as the community mourns and seeks answers for those lost in this tragic event.
