Native officers in Texas on Tuesday stated they had been unable to reply key questions on how ready they had been for the lethal flooding that struck the realm on Friday, together with how and when the county emergency supervisor responded.
The Nationwide Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Kerr County — the place the Guadalupe River is positioned and the overwhelming majority of fatalities had been positioned — at 1:14 a.m. Friday.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha advised reporters Tuesday that he was first notified in regards to the flooding “across the 4 [a.m.] to five [a.m.] space,” when 911 calls got here in.
Automobiles are seen caught in particles close to the Guadalupe River, July 7, 2025 in Hunt, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Pictures
“One in all my sergeants was in dispatch when the primary calls began to return in,” he advised reporters.
Nonetheless, when he was pressed to provide extra particulars on a timeline, the sheriff stated it might take time to get extra particulars.
“It was between 4 and 5 [a.m.] once I obtained notified, however previous to that in that 3 to 4 space my understanding is … ” Leitha stated, earlier than he stopped with out finishing his sentence, including officers had been “making an attempt to get that strategy of making an attempt to place a timeline.”
“As I’ve advised you many occasions, that isn’t my precedence right now,” he added.
Within the days because the lethal flooding, state and native officers have stated they continue to be in a search and rescue operation. Tons of of first responders remained alongside the Guadalupe River in Kerr County on Tuesday “working to reunite households,” Leitha stated.
As of Tuesday, the dying toll had risen to 110, and Gov. Greg Abbott stated at least 173 people were still missing throughout the state.
The governor stated the Texas Nationwide Guard is aiding native authorities seek for the lacking, and helicopters and drones are additionally getting used within the search efforts.
When ABC Information requested Leitha if the emergency supervisor, who has not been recognized, was awake on the time or pushed the flash flood alerts out, the sheriff commented, “I can not inform you right now.”
Particles lays alongside the Guadalupe River after it was swept up within the flash flooding, July 8, 2025 in Ingram, Texas.
Jim Vondruska/Getty Pictures
Different reporters requested related questions on who was on name and once they had been notified, however the officers declined to reply and shortly switched to a different matter earlier than ending the information convention.
“We’ll get solutions. Proper now all of our assets are targeted on restoration,” Lt. Col. Ben Baker, deputy director of regulation enforcement for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Division.
Another Texas officers stated that the group ought to have been extra ready when the storm hit.
“There ought to have been sirens right here,” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick advised Fox Information on Monday.
