Overview

• More than two dozen city and county officials, meteorologists, civil engineers and mental health experts will testify first on alert failures and coordination gaps.
• Public testimony is scheduled later in the day with each survivor limited to three minutes to share personal recovery challenges.
• Residents like Brian Keeper face home demolitions, intermittent utilities and lack of running water as basic needs stretch local relief efforts.
• Lawmakers are weighing reforms including community-based phone alerts, flood alarms and automated sensor networks to strengthen warning systems.
• Critics say the average $8,000 in FEMA home repair grants falls far short of rebuilding costs for hard-hit Hill Country families.