Overview

• Search teams continue scouring flood debris in Texas Hill Country for more than 170 people still unaccounted for after July 4 flash floods that killed at least 120.
• President Trump toured the devastation in Kerrville, pledged federal support to survivors and first responders, and approved expanding the major disaster declaration to eight additional counties.
• Governor Greg Abbott has called a special legislative session to secure funding for flood warning sirens and emergency communications after long-standing bid failures.
• Local officials have faced criticism over Kerr County’s lack of flood sirens and delays in the CodeRED emergency alert system during the Guadalupe River’s rapid surge.
• Administration officials maintain that recent staffing cuts did not affect FEMA and National Weather Service response despite critics’ concerns.