Overview

• Central Texas floods on July 4–5 have left more than 100 people dead, including at least 28 children, as search-and-rescue operations continue in Kerr County
• A July 9 Mint report found that Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency cuts created 22–100% vacancy rates at NWS offices in San Angelo, Austin/San Antonio and Houston/Galveston
• NOAA’s National Weather Service says it issued a flood watch on July 4 at 1:18 p.m. and a flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. on July 5 and provided decision support to emergency responders
• Camp Mystic operators confirmed the loss of 27 campers and counselors, raising questions about local alert systems and camp emergency protocols
• Meteorologists remain split over the impact of cuts on forecast delivery, with John Morales defending warning quality and Troy Kimmel warning that continued reductions could erode timely information