After devastating central Texas with flash floods on Friday, the storm has now killed at least 106 people. Authorities are concerned that the death toll could still increase further as search efforts go into a fifth day. Raging floods have just ripped through the Texas Hill Country, wreaking total havoc. Dozens are still missing, including many campers from a local summer camp. As the community grapples with the aftermath, questions arise regarding the federal government’s preparedness for extreme weather events amidst ongoing climate challenges.
This caused major flooding south of Austin, particularly along widespread swollen rivers, including the normally quiet Guadalupe River in Kerr County, seen above, early Friday morning. The campers’ and counselors’ lives lost in the resulting inundation were that of 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp. Only reports estimate that not less than ten girls remain unaccounted for. One counselor, too, is unaccounted for as search and rescue teams continue to search.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has frequently stated his desire to identify every missing person. “Texas will remain engaged until every missing person is found and every Texan recovers from this disaster,” he stated during a press conference. He cautioned that more heavy rain should not be ruled out as a concern. As always, Texans should keep a close eye on conditions and listen to their local emergency management officials.
Environmental advocates and scientists have been sounding the alarm on these increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events. They link many of these changes to the ever-present climate crisis. Samantha Montano, a disaster management scholar, remarked, “This is what happens when you let climate change run unabated and break apart the emergency management system – without investing in that system at the local and state level.”
Sadly, the current crisis is compounded by the Trump administration’s past actions. These decisions gutted federal agencies that provided significantly needed day-to-day support with respect to disaster preparedness and response. One-quarter of employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are about to leave, worsening a crisis in staffing shortages. According to reports, that would mean losing about one-fifth of FEMA’s full-time workforce, as a piece of these administrative changes.
Beyond staffing shortages, environmental advocates point out that severe cuts to the agency’s funding have impeded critical research and forecasting work. Congress’s recent budgetary decisions slashed $50 million for these vital National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grants. These grants were key to understanding climate-related impacts. Ted Cruz’s influence in the Republican spending bill has accelerated advancements in weather forecasting while simultaneously cutting essential funding for these initiatives.
Cruz has previously questioned whether the scientific consensus on climate change is known. This should be alarming considering how we plan to respond to future disasters. Over 600 employees have reportedly exited the National Weather Service due to recent government downsizing efforts, leaving many offices short-staffed in critical meteorological roles.
As search and recovery work for the missing continues, community leaders emphasize a coordinated approach from volunteers. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. emphasized, “We need focused and coordinated volunteers, not random people just showing up and doing what they do.” This demand for a systematic approach underscores the community’s greater, pressing need for support during the disruptive turmoil that came in the wake of the floods.
We’ve seen local residents share their anger and hurt at the destruction caused by the floods. Justin Rubio, a local volunteer, described the emotional toll of witnessing the aftermath: “It’s sad. It eats at your soul, it eats at your heart.” Despite the bedlam, he said he felt compelled to step in and assist. “I can’t just sit at home thinking about what’s going on out here,” he said.
While Texas is dealing with renewed weather hazards from the recent storms, experts are cautioning that the country is at an increasing risk for similar disasters. “This is the exact kind of storm that meteorologists, climate scientists, emergency management experts have been talking about and warning about for decades at this point,” Montano noted.