The Nationwide Climate Service (NWS) issued a new flash flood watch for central Texas by 7 p.m. native time Monday, as rescue and restoration efforts proceed after the lethal flash flood over the weekend.
“The state of affairs on the bottom stays harmful and there might be extra public security threats with potential incoming heavy rain,” White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Monday.
The Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) stated a minimum of 91 individuals are lifeless, together with 28 youngsters. The search is on for 41 people who find themselves known to be missing, together with 10 ladies from Camp Mystic.
The Christian camp launched an announcement Monday grieving the lack of 27 campers and counselors.
“We now have been in communication with native and state authorities who’re tirelessly deploying intensive sources to seek for our lacking ladies,” the assertion stated.
“We ask to your continued prayers, respect and privateness for every of our households affected. Could the Lord proceed to wrap His presence round all of us.”
President Trump signed a disaster declaration and stated he’ll go to Texas on Friday, if rescue and restoration efforts permit.
“Your entire Trump administration is working hand-in-glove with state and native officers to supply each help out there,” Leavitt stated.
Kerr County skilled about six months price of rain over the course of 4 hours Friday, inflicting the Guadalupe River to rise to the height of a two-story building.
A whole lot had been rescued by helicopter, a few of them “clinging to timber to avoid wasting their lives,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) stated.
Amid the grief, questions are rising in regards to the preparedness of the NWS and others tasked with stopping casualties from climate occasions.
“The truth that you’ve gotten ladies asleep of their cabins when the flood waters are rising, one thing went improper there,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on Fox Information. “We’ve bought to repair that and have a greater system of warning to get children out of hurt’s approach.”
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), whose district contains Kerr Nation, stated: “There’s going to be a variety of finger-pointing, a variety of second-guessing and Monday morning quarterbacking. There’s lots of people saying ‘why’ and ‘how,’ and I perceive that.”
Democrats are calling for an investigation into the attainable function of staffing cuts on the NWS.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-Texas) despatched a letter to the appearing Inspector Basic on the Division of Commerce seeking an inquiry into “whether or not staffing shortages at key native NWS stations contributed to the catastrophic lack of life and property throughout the lethal flooding.”
The White Home is seething on the allegation, which has additionally been raised by some information retailers.
“Sadly, within the wake of this as soon as in a technology pure catastrophe, we’ve seen many falsehoods pushed by Democrats… and a few members of the media,” Leavitt stated. “Blaming President Trump for this flood is a wicked lie and it serves no goal throughout this time of nationwide mourning.”
Leavitt stated that NWS was adequately staffed and that some branches had been overstaffed, pointing to flash flood warnings that went out hours earlier than the climate occasion.
“The NWS did its job,” Leavitt stated.
Meteorologists have famous the uncommon mixture of parts, together with the ferocity of the in a single day surge, the tough Hill Nation terrain and the good variety of folks out in nature for the nationwide vacation.
DHS launched a thread on X saying the “mainstream media is intentionally mendacity in regards to the occasions main as much as the catastrophic flooding in Texas.”
“The Nationwide Climate Service executed well timed, exact forecasting and warnings, regardless of unprecedented rainfall overwhelming the area,” DHS stated, adding a detailed timeline of when warnings and alerts went out forward of the flash flood.
Trump stated there’s no proof to recommend staffing cuts had something to do with the tragedy, calling it “a horrible factor” that “occurred in seconds.”
“I might simply say this can be a 100-year disaster, and it’s simply so horrible for all,” Trump added.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) was asked on CNN about issues over NWS staffing: “I don’t need to sit right here and say conclusively that that was the case, however I do assume that it ought to be investigated.”
The Texas Tribune has an in depth look right here on the timeline of events.