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2h ago

Dispatch Audio Reveals Kerr County’s CodeRED Delays During Deadly Flood

An after-action review will examine decision protocols alongside technical gaps in Kerr County’s flood-warning systems.

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The sun sets over the Guadalupe River on July 06, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas, leaving more than 80 people reported dead.
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Overview

  • Dispatch audio shows an Ingram firefighter’s 4:22 a.m. request for a CodeRED alert was deferred pending supervisor approval at the height of rising floodwaters.
  • FEMA archive data confirm Kerr County sent no IPAWS wireless alerts between the National Weather Service’s 1:14 a.m. flood warning and the 4:03 a.m. flash flood emergency.
  • CodeRED notifications reached only registered subscribers and were delivered inconsistently, with reported times ranging from 1:14 a.m. to after 5:30 a.m.
  • Officials updated the county’s confirmed death toll to 96 and reported 161 people missing, highlighting the deadly impact of delayed warnings.
  • Sheriff Larry Leitha pledged a formal after-action review as investigators probe local alert policies, technical gaps and training deficiencies.