Overview

• At least 91 people died and dozens remain missing after the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes over the July 4 weekend
• The National Weather Service issued a flood watch more than 12 hours ahead and declared a flash flood emergency three hours before the surge, with extra staff on duty
• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats have called for a Commerce Department inspector general investigation into whether NWS vacancies hindered warnings
• White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called claims that President Trump’s cuts to forecasting agencies contributed to the deaths a “depraved lie”
• Kerr County officials acknowledged lacking a dedicated river warning system and pledged a full review of local flood alert protocols