Texas Floods Raise Questions on Weather Service Resources

Texas Republican Representative Brian Babin talks devastating Texas floods and says once rescue and recovery efforts are over, officials will be looking at what could have prevented deaths.

Search crews slogged through thick mud and debris Tuesday in central Texas, where more than 100 people are confirmed dead after catastrophic flooding. Pressure is growing on local officials to explain why more weren’t warned in time to escape.

Authorities described the search as grueling and slow-moving, with unstable rubble piles and high water complicating recovery efforts along the Guadalupe River. In total, 104 people have been confirmed dead statewide, and officials say the toll is expected to rise.

Lieutenant Colonel Ben Baker of the Texas Game Wardens said his crews have searched more than 26 river miles using helicopters, drones, boats and K-9 units. His team alone saved about 444 people and recovered 30 bodies, with hundreds of local, state and federal personnel on the ground in “extremely challenging” terrain, Baker said.

Overall, more than 850 rescues have been reported.

“It’s extremely treacherous, time-consuming, it’s dirty work, the water is still there,” Baker said. “We’re having to go layer by layer peeling these off to make those recoveries.”

No live rescues have been reported since Friday, said Jonathan Lamb, a community services officer with the Kerrville Police Department. Officials have repeatedly declined to say how many people are unaccounted for, including at Tuesday’s briefing.

The floods struck before dawn on Friday morning, when torrential rain crashed down on campgrounds, RV parks and riverside communities, sweeping away cabins, vehicles and bridges in a region packed with tourists over the Fourth of July weekend. Floodwaters carried tons of debris downstream, hindering rescue efforts.

Even as the search continues, pressure is growing on local officials to explain why more people weren’t alerted in time to safely evacuate.

At the press conference on Tuesday, several reporters pressed Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha to say when his office knew the floods posed a threat and and how officials weighed whether to issue an evacuation order.

“That is not my priority right now,”said Leitha, adding that he’s focused on locating and identifying people as well as notifying next of kin. He said that his office is still working to assemble a timeline of what happened.

--------

Watch Bloomberg Radio LIVE on YouTube

Weekdays 7am-6pm ET

Follow us on X

Subscribe to our Podcasts:

Bloomberg Daybreak

Bloomberg Surveillance

Bloomberg Intelligence

Balance of Power

Bloomberg Businessweek

Listen on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the Bloomberg Business app:

Apple CarPlay

Android Auto

Visit our YouTube channels:

Bloomberg Podcasts

Bloomberg Television

Bloomberg Originals