The devastating flooding in Texas has resulted in a rising death toll, now reported at 119 fatalities across the state, as officials confirmed on Wednesday morning. Search and rescue crews are tirelessly working to locate individuals, while residents and various news organizations are raising concerns about the government's alarm and warning systems. The situation is particularly dire in Kerr County, which experienced the worst impact from last Friday’s floods.
As of Wednesday, Kerr County officials reported that 95 individuals had lost their lives in the flood, with an additional 24 deaths occurring in surrounding areas. The local sheriff disclosed that among the deceased, there are 59 adults and 36 children, with 27 bodies still remaining unidentified. Residents are now gradually returning to their properties to assess the extensive damage caused by this catastrophic flash flood. As efforts to rescue, recover, and clean up continue, the community grapples with the aftermath of this natural disaster.
Currently, 161 people are believed to be missing in Kerr County, which constitutes the bulk of the 173 missing individuals across the entire state. Among those unaccounted for are five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp that was severely affected by the flood. The community remains on high alert as search and rescue operations persist.
As cleanup efforts progress, scrutiny is increasing regarding the government’s alert system designed to warn residents of impending floods. Investigative reports have shown that first responders had requested a mass-alert system to be activated on Friday morning. This system is intended to send text messages and deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone messages to residents in the affected area. However, dispatchers postponed the 4:22 AM request from volunteer firefighters, citing the need for special authorization, according to Texas Public Radio (TPR), which has reviewed emergency radio transmissions.
While some residents received flood warnings within an hour of the request, others reported not receiving alerts until 10 AM, nearly six hours later. This delay has raised questions about the reliability of local emergency response protocols. A separate report from KSAT corroborates TPR’s findings, highlighting inconsistencies in the response from local officials.
During a press conference held on July 4, Kerr County Judge acknowledged the lack of an effective emergency alert system in the area. Sheriff Larry Leitha emphasized the need for transparency: “I believe those questions need to be answered, to the families of the missed loved ones, to the public… and we’re going to get that answer,” he stated. He assured the community that the situation would be investigated thoroughly.
Many communities in the region lack outdoor weather sirens that could provide immediate alerts. Since 2015, Kerr County officials have applied for grants aimed at establishing a flood warning system. Historically, warnings about potential floods have been communicated to local summer camps via word-of-mouth, a method that proved inadequate during this emergency. In response to the situation, a petition launched on Change.org for an early warning siren system has garnered over 35,000 signatures.
The Kerr County Sheriff’s Department remains committed to ongoing rescue and recovery operations, emphasizing that it is an “all hands on deck” scenario. During a recent press briefing, local officials urged residents to exercise caution and allow search crews ample space as they work. “We are using very heavy equipment to search and clear up fallen trees and debris,” a sheriff’s official stated.
In response to the disaster, the Trump administration declared the flooding a “major disaster” and has deployed federal resources to support the state’s recovery efforts. As communities across Texas come together to rebuild, the focus remains on enhancing emergency preparedness to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
