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Texas Lawmakers Hold First Kerrville Field Hearing on July 4 Flood Response

Survivors urged using the Rainy Day Fund for immediate aid following failures in river siren and cellphone alerts.

Crews work on the Cade Loop Bridge to clear debris after flooding along the Guadalupe River on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Ingram, Texas.
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Overview

  • Texas legislators convened July 31 in Kerrville for the first public field hearing on deadly July 4 Hill Country floods with testimony from two dozen officials, scientists and survivors.
  • Newly released texts and emails show local leaders focused on Independence Day festival planning and signed a disaster declaration only by 8:30 a.m.
  • Survivors described acute shortages of housing, running water and food and called on lawmakers to tap the state Rainy Day Fund for immediate relief.
  • Advocates noted that FEMA’s average $8,000 home-repair award falls far short of rebuilding costs and urged community-based phone alerts and river sirens.
  • Lawmakers filed bills to finance early-warning systems, upgrade emergency communications and strengthen flood-prone infrastructure in rural counties.