Native officers in Texas on Tuesday stated they had been not able to reply to key questions on how ready they had been for the fatal flooding that struck the world on Friday, together with how and when the county emergency supervisor spoke back.
The Nationwide Climate Carrier issued a flash flood caution for Kerr County — the place the Guadalupe River is situated and nearly all of fatalities had been situated — at 1:14 a.m. Friday.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha informed journalists Tuesday that he was once 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 noticed caught in particles close to the Guadalupe River, July 7, 2025 in Hunt, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Pictures
“One among my sergeants was once in dispatch when the primary calls began to return in,” he informed journalists.
On the other hand, when he was once pressed to present extra main points on a timeline, the sheriff stated it might take time to get extra main points.
“It was once between 4 and 5 [a.m.] after I were given notified, however previous to that during that 3 to 4 space my figuring out is … ” Leitha stated, earlier than he stopped with out finishing his sentence, including officers had been “seeking to get that technique of seeking to put a timeline.”
“As I have informed you many occasions, that isn’t my precedence presently,” he added.
Within the days because the fatal flooding, state and native officers have stated they continue to be in a seek and rescue operation. Loads of first responders remained alongside the Guadalupe River in Kerr County on Tuesday “running to reunite households,” Leitha stated.
As of Tuesday, the dying toll had risen to 110, and Gov. Greg Abbott stated a minimum of 173 other people had been nonetheless lacking around the state.
The governor stated the Texas Nationwide Guard is helping native government seek for the lacking, and helicopters and drones also are getting used within the seek efforts.
When ABC Information requested Leitha if the emergency supervisor, who has no longer been recognized, was once unsleeping on the time or driven the flash flood signals out, the sheriff commented, “I can’t inform you presently.”
Particles lays alongside the Guadalupe River after it was once swept up within the flash flooding, July 8, 2025 in Ingram, Texas.
Jim Vondruska/Getty Pictures
Different journalists requested an identical questions on who was once on name and once they had been notified, however the officers declined to reply and shortly switched to every other matter earlier than finishing the inside track convention.
“We can get solutions. At the moment all of our sources are serious about restoration,” Lt. Col. Ben Baker, deputy director of legislation enforcement for the Texas Parks & Flora and fauna Division.
Every other Texas officers stated that the group must were extra ready when the hurricane hit.
“There must were sirens right here,” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick informed Fox Information on Monday.
