The catastrophic Central Texas floods have claimed at least 121 lives and left 173 missing, as a report reveals that Kerr County officials were repeatedly denied state funding for an emergency flood warning system.
County officials alerted the Federal Emergency Management Agency in October that it was “likely” that deadly flooding would occur “in the next year,” according to The New York Times.
Between 2017 and 2024, the newspaper identified at least three instances where Kerr County officials sought funding for a flood warning system but were denied by the state.
Kerry County remains at the center of the disaster after the Guadalupe River burst its banks on Friday. At least 96 people in the county are dead, including 36 children, officials said Thursday. At least 161 others were still missing in the county.
Donald Trump and First Lady Melania are preparing to visit Kerville on Friday afternoon to survey the “horrible” damage in what the president called a “one in every 200-year deal.”
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Key Points
- Texas flooding death toll rises to 121 as 173 remain missing
- Kerr County ‘repeatedly denied funding’ for flood warning system
- Trump and Melania to visit Texas to witness damage firsthand
- President calls for alarms before heading to hard-hit Kerrville
- Before-and-after pictures show devastating toll of catastrophic flood
Trump calls for alarms before heading to hard-hit Kerrville
09:03
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James Liddell
President Trump expressed support for emergency flood warning systems after the devastating floods that swept through the Texas Hill Country.
“After having seen this horrible event, I would imagine you’d put alarms up in some form,” the president told NBC News’s Meet the Press. “Where alarms would go up if they see any large amounts of water or whatever it is.”
Trump’s comments came less than a day before his scheduled visit to Kerrville to survey flood damage.
Kerr County ‘repeatedly denied funding’ for flood warning system
08:41
,
James Liddell
Kerr County officials were repeatedly denied state funding for an emergency flood warning system, a new report states.
County officials alerted the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a 220-page “hazard mitigation” report in October that it was “likely” that deadly flooding would occur “in the next year,” according to The New York Times.
Officials outlined a possible solution: a flood warning system that could alert residents to rapidly rising waters.
The cost of such a system was estimated at less than $1 million, and they noted that FEMA had grant programs that could pay for it.
Between 2017 and 2024, the newspaper identified at least three instances where Kerr County officials sought funding for a flood warning system but were denied by the state.
Trump heading to Texas to witness damage firsthand
07:24
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Rachel Clun, AP
President Donald Trump will travel to Texas on Friday for a firsthand look at the devastation caused by the catastrophic floods.
The president is expected to do an aerial tour of some of the hard-hit areas.
The White House also says he'll visit the state emergency operations centre to meet with first responders and relatives of flood victims.
Trump will also get a briefing from officials. Republican Governor Greg Abbott, Senator John Cornyn and Senator Ted Cruz are joining the visit, with the GOP senators expected to fly to their state with Trump aboard Air Force One.
"Nobody ever saw a thing like this coming," Trump told NBC News on Thursday, adding, "This is a once-in-every-200-year deal." He's also suggested he'd have been ready to visit Texas within hours but didn't want to burden authorities still searching for the more than 170 people who are still missing.
Watch: Death toll rises as authorities continue rescue and recovery efforts
07:16
,
Rachel Clun
Governor Abbott asks for more communities to be added to Trump's Major Disaster Declaration
06:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
Governor Greg Abbott has asked for more communities to be added to the Major Disaster Declaration President Donald Trump approved last Sunday after flash floods devastated Central Texas two days prior.
The declaration made federal funding available to individuals in hard-hit Kerr County and state and eligible local governments.
“In addition to Kerrville, many communities across Texas were hit with deadly flooding. I have added San Saba, Burnet, Williamson, Travis and Tom Green counties to President Trump's Disaster Declaration,” Abbott wrote on X Thursday night.
In addition to Kerrville, many communities across Texas were hit with deadly flooding.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 11, 2025
I have added San Saba, Burnet, Williamson, Travis and Tom Green counties to President Trump's Disaster Declaration.
More may be added later.
We will help all of our communities through the…
Timelapse shows deadly Texas floodwater rising in minutes
05:35
,
Rachel Dobkin
Former Texas official says flood alert would have been 'ineffective' for Hunt even if it was sent out earlier
05:15
,
Rachel Dobkin
John David Trolinger, former IT director for Kerr County, said a flood alert would have been “ineffective” for hard-hit Hunt even if it was sent out earlier.
Trolinger was listening to dispatch calls Friday morning when floodwaters started hitting Central Texas.
Audio of these calls from a local firefighter was obtained by CNN and played on air Thursday.
“Is there any way we can send a CodeRED out to our Hunt residents asking them to find higher ground or stay home?” the firefighter asked.
That call was made at 4:22 a.m. local time, according to KSAT, which also obtained dispatch recordings. Trolinger started hearing calls signaling something was wrong at 3:27 a.m. local time, according to CNN’s Erin Burnett, who had Trolinger on her show Thursday night.
When Burnett asked Trolinger, who had helped install the CodeRED emergency alert system, if things could have played out differently, he said, “ It's too late for Hunt. The water's come up and the wall of water's heading down to Ingram.”
“ A quick action could have helped people down river. But at 3:30, once it hit 4:30, it was just too late. The CodeRED would've been ineffective in my opinion.”
The first CodeRED alerts were sent out at 5:34 a.m. local time, per KSAT.
Texas flood before-and-after pictures show devastating toll of catastrophe which left 120 dead and 173 missing
04:55
,
Rachel Dobkin
Texas flags will be lowered to half-staff until July 14
04:35
,
Rachel Dobkin
Governor Greg Abbott announced Wednesday Texas flags will be lowered to half-staff “in heartfelt remembrance of those whose lives were tragically lost in the recent floods.”
While search and rescue efforts are still underway, 121 people have died so far and 173 are missing after flash flooding on July 4 devastated Central Texas.
The flags will be at half-staff until Monday, July 14.
Governor Abbott thanks Tennessee for helping in Central Texas search and rescue efforts
04:15
,
Rachel Dobkin
Governor Greg Abbott thanked Tennessee for helping with search and rescue efforts by sending K-9 teams to Central Texas following catastrophic floods on July 4.
Thank you to Tennessee for aiding in the search for missing loved ones after the devastating flooding in Texas by sending K-9 teams.@GovBillLee and his state are bringing aid and hope to Texas families.https://t.co/Npp8Frb3q0
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 11, 2025
In pictures: Search and rescue efforts continue for sixth day
03:55
,
Rachel Dobkin
It’s been six days since flash floods along the Guadalupe River devastated Central Texas.
At least 121 people were killed in the floods, and 173 are still missing. Search and rescue efforts continued Thursday, but hopes of finding survivors have faded. No survivors have been found since Friday.
Here are some pictures from Thursday’s search and rescue efforts:
Trump calls for alarms after flash floods devastate Central Texas
03:38
,
Rachel Dobkin
President Donald Trump called for alarms after flash floods along the Guadalupe River last Friday devastated Central Texas.
Trump told NBC News’ Kristen Welker Thursday he thinks “everyone’s doing a great job” responding to the catastrophe.
While Texas officials are working tirelessly to find the 173 people still missing, questions have been raised about whether local, state and federal officials could’ve done more to warn residents about the floods.
“After having seen this horrible event, I would imagine you’d put alarms up in some form, where alarms would go up if they see any large amounts of water or whatever it is,” Trump told Welker, adding, “But the local officials were hit by this just like everybody else.”
Hard-hit Kerrville cancels police 5K run
03:35
,
Rachel Dobkin
Kerrville, which was hit hard by the flash floods in Central Texas last Friday, has canceled an upcoming 5K run hosted by its police department “for obvious reasons.”
“We must regretfully cancel this Saturday's 5KPD run for obvious reasons. Future runs are not confirmed at this time, but we look forward to the day when we can return to the River Trail as a community. We thank you for understanding,” Kerrville police wrote in a Facebook post Thursday.
Kerrville officials thank those who helped restore power after devastating Texas floods
03:15
,
Rachel Dobkin
Officials in hard-hit Kerrville thanked those who helped restore power to the city after flash floods on July 4 devastated Central Texas.
“As the last of our mutual aid crews have now headed home, we at KPUB would like to extend our deepest gratitude to those who helped us restore power in the aftermath of this devastating event,” the Kerrville Public Utility Board wrote on Facebook Thursday.
Where in the world is the FEMA head? Agency leader hasn’t been seen in over a week sparking concern
02:55
,
Rachel Dobkin
FEMA Acting Administrator David Richardson has been absent during the federal response to the floods in Texas, prompting concerns about his leadership.
Richardson hasn’t visited the site of the floods, the deadliest in the U.S. in a quarter century, ending a longstanding tradition of FEMA leaders being publicly available following natural disasters.
“DHS and its components have taken an all-hands-on-deck approach” to the Texas flooding, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Politico, pointing to aid given by the U.S. Coast Guard and Border Protection. “FEMA has deployed extensive staff to support Texas response and recovery operations based on staff skills and requirements.”
Former FEMA officials told the outlet that Richardson being away from the scene has prompted concerns that the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, is in charge of FEMA’s response to the tragedy.
Read more from Gustaf Kilander:
Families sift through debris and begin cleanup after devastating Texas floods
02:15
,
Rachel Dobkin
Rescue consultant describes the process of looking through flood debris
01:55
,
Rachel Dobkin
Search and rescue efforts continued Thursday after catastrophic flash floods hit Central Texas on July 4.
Gerald Dworkin, a water rescue consultant and former safety director for the American Red Cross in Houston, described the process of looking through debris in hopes of finding the bodies of those missing.
“It's really much the same picking, slowly picking your way through the debris, looking for whatever…can be salvaged and whatever bodies could be recovered,” Dworkin told The Texas Tribune.
At least 121 people have been killed in the floods, and 173 others are still missing.
Ted Cruz says Camp Mystic flood disaster was 'the most horrible thing I've ever seen'
01:35
,
Rachel Dobkin
Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, told Fox News he visited Camp Mystic after it was hit by floodwaters along the Guadalupe River last Friday.
“It is the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen,” he said of the devastation.
The floods killed 27 campers and staff from the all-girls Christian camp.
I was at Camp Mystic on Monday.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 10, 2025
The devastation was the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/9l5V2aJ4MU
Volunteer firefighter describes 'power' of Guadalupe River
01:15
,
Rachel Dobkin
Razor Dobbs of the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department described the “power” of the Guadalupe River that left nearby communities devastated after it flooded last Friday.
Dobbs told CNN Thursday he and his crew found signage from 30 miles away.
“That’s the power of this river,” he said, adding that it’s “mind-blowing...how something can make it that far down the river through all these trees.”
Texas officials share photos of state's response to deadly floods
Friday 11 July 2025 00:55
,
Rachel Dobkin
The Texas Department of Public Safety shared photos on X of the state’s response to the deadly floods that hit Central Texas last Friday.
It has been nearly a week since devastating flooding struck Kerr County, and still, law enforcement agencies & first responders from across the country continue working in the disaster area. We cannot thank these partner agencies enough. #thankyou #ProtectAndServe #KerrvilleTX pic.twitter.com/7bphN546EW
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) July 10, 2025
Texas committees on flood preparedness will hold first hearing soon
Friday 11 July 2025 00:35
,
Rachel Dobkin
The Texas Senate and House Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding will hold their first joint hearing on July 23, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced Thursday.
The committees will examine the state’s flood warning systems and flood emergency communications in the wake of deadly flash floods that hit Central Texas on July 4.
Speaker @Burrows4TX and I have created the Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding to address the current needs and resources necessary to avoid such devastating impacts along our rivers in the future.
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) July 10, 2025
The first hearing will take place at the Capitol on July 23,… pic.twitter.com/aD86hLRMMm
Texas officials announce damage assessments are underway
Friday 11 July 2025 00:15
,
Rachel Dobkin
The Texas Division of Emergency Management announced damage assessments are underway for areas hit by catastrophic floods along the Guadalupe River on July 4.
️Damage assessments are underway in areas affected by flooding across the state
— Texas Division of Emergency Management (@TDEM) July 10, 2025
If your home or property was damaged, report it at https://t.co/SB3Ct7DHSe to help officials better evaluate resource needs and check eligibility for various forms of federal disaster assistance. pic.twitter.com/wCbWLSTKc1
Texas Legislature creates disaster preparedness and flooding committees
Thursday 10 July 2025 23:55
,
Rachel Dobkin
The Texas Senate and House announced the creation of the “Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding” Thursday.
The committees will meet jointly to examine the state’s flood warning systems and flood emergency communications.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said the creation of the committees “is just the beginning of the Legislature looking at every aspect of this tragic event,” referring to the catastrophic flash flooding in Central Texas on July 4.
Texas Senate and Texas House Announce Creation of Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding: https://t.co/NXCPYPrZNO#txlege pic.twitter.com/fgqewXVZ8M
— Office of the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (@LtGovTX) July 10, 2025
“This effort is about moving quickly to help Texans recover and laying the foundation to better protect our communities—and our children—from future disasters,” House Speaker Dustin Burrows said.
Ninety-six people in hard-hit Kerr County are dead, including 36 children. In total, 120 people were killed and 173 are still missing after the devastating floods.
'Quiet weather' expected tonight in Central Texas
Thursday 10 July 2025 23:35
,
Rachel Dobkin
The National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office wrote on X, “Generally quiet weather is expected tonight.”
“The dry and mostly sunny break from the wet weather continues into Friday, though an isolated shower or storm can't be ruled out over the Coastal Plains. Rain chances return this weekend into early next week,” the office said.
Generally quiet weather is expected tonight. The dry and mostly sunny break from the wet weather continues into Friday, though an isolated shower or storm can't be ruled out over the Coastal Plains. Rain chances return this weekend into early next week. #txwx pic.twitter.com/FDcTyISvzA
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) July 10, 2025
Governor requests disaster assistance for more counties
Thursday 10 July 2025 23:15
,
Katie Hawkinson
Governor Greg Abbott has requested that four more Texas counties be added to President Donald Trump’s major disaster declaration following Friday’s deadly floods.
“Damage assessments indicate that multiple homes in these counties havemajor damage or are destroyed as a result of this disaster,” Abbott wrote in a letter Thursday. “As we assess damages in the other affected counties, I reserve the right to request assistance for additional counties in Texas.”
Nebraskans assist rescue efforts in Texas
Thursday 10 July 2025 23:00
,
Katie Hawkinson
Search and rescue teams from Nebraska have arrived in Kerr County, Texas to assist with recovery efforts.
“Thank you [Governor Jim Pillen] and our fellow Americans in Nebraska who deployed their Type 3 Urban Search & Rescue Team to help with the aftermath of flooding in Kerr County,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott wrote on X. “Governor Pillen, your support is vital to our response efforts.”
Texas flood before-and-after pictures show devastating toll of catastrophe which left 120 dead and 173 missing
Thursday 10 July 2025 22:45
,
Katie Hawkinson
At least 120 people are dead and 173 are missing in central Texas after the Guadalupe River swelled early Friday, causing destructive flash flooding throughout Kerr County.
Now, new before-and-after satellite images of several sites throughout Kerry County show the devastation caused by the floods as crews embark on a seventh day of search and rescue efforts.
Keep reading:
Breaking down the force of water in the Texas floods
Thursday 10 July 2025 22:35
,
Associated Press
Over just two hours, the Guadalupe River at Comfort, Texas, rose from hip-height to three stories tall, sending water weighing as much as the Empire State building downstream roughly every minute it remained at its crest.
The force of floodwater is often more powerful and surprising than people imagine.
Keep reading:
In pictures: Community pays tribute to flood victims
Thursday 10 July 2025 22:17
,
Katie Hawkinson
What is ‘alert fatigue’ and how is it causing a big problem in getting people to leave ahead of a disaster?
Thursday 10 July 2025 22:02
,
Katie Hawkinson
There were many flash flooding warnings in Kerr County, Texas ahead of Friday’s devastating floods, but those alerts didn’t reach some of the campers and residents who didn’t have cellphone service, who had silenced notifications, or who didn’t have their phones with them.
Excessive warnings can cause alert fatigue which leads some to turn off notifications and increase their risk during emergencies.
Gustaf Kilander has the story:
Texas flooding death toll rises to 121
Thursday 10 July 2025 21:48
,
Katie Hawkinson
At least 121 people have died as a result of the devastating floods in central Texas.
The new tally, increased from 120, comes after an eighth death was announced in Travis County, Texas.
California canine teams assist in Texas
Thursday 10 July 2025 21:26
,
Katie Hawkinson
Canine teams from Southern California are assisting with search and rescue efforts in Kerr County, Texas.
“Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the severe flooding in Texas,” the Orange County Fire Authority said in a statement, “As the sponsoring agency of FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 5, OCFA deployed two of our highly trained canine detection teams to assist in the ongoing search and recovery efforts.”
Unemployment assistance available for flood victims
Thursday 10 July 2025 21:14
,
Katie Hawkinson
Governor Greg Abbott’s office is reminding Texans that unemployment assistance is available to those impacted by the deadly flooding in Kerr County.
Florida sends swift water rescue teams to Texas
Thursday 10 July 2025 20:58
,
Katie Hawkinson
Florida has sent swift water rescue teams and K-9 units to assist with search and recovery efforts in Texas.
“Thank you, Florida, for your support in the aftermath of these devastating floods,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott wrote on social media.
Mexican cadaver dog teams aid search in Texas
Thursday 10 July 2025 20:41
,
Katie Hawkinson
A group of K-9 handlers from Mexico who were training in Texas joined the search for 173 missing people after the devastating floods on Friday.
The handlers are part of a program that allows Mexican authorities to travel to the US for training classes. Michael Clemenson, who owns the local center where the handlers are training, told CNN he was “not surprised at all when the entire class volunteered to go search.”
“The handlers doing this type of work are a special group; nobody is forced to be a...handler, they volunteer for their own reasons and then devote so much time and energy into perfecting the craft. It’s an honor to work with them,” Clemenson said.
How to be prepared for major flooding
Thursday 10 July 2025 20:32
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Katie Hawkinson
Catastrophic floods can be difficult to prepare for. Here are some tips on how to prepare for extreme flooding, and how you can stay safe in the event of a disaster:
Aerial photos show devastation near Guadalupe River
Thursday 10 July 2025 20:20
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Katie Hawkinson