Devastating Kerr County Floods Spark Calls for Investigation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch, said Monday she will demand a full investigation by the House Homeland Security Committee into “what went wrong” with the devastating Kerr County floods that left dozens dead.

“We need answers, accountability, and immediate action to prevent this kind of failure from happening again,” Johnson said in a statement. “We owe it to the victims and their families.”

Johnson is a member of the panel, which is under the control of Republicans.

President Donald Trump’s administration pushed back on suggestions that National Weather Service staffing levels had any impact on the tragedy.

Response to the Tragedy

Texas Democrats and Republicans expressed gratitude to the first responders and volunteers involved in rescuing people from the floodwaters and said they were grieving with those affected by the tragedy.

“Right now, with more rain expected, the focus must be on finding the missing, reuniting families, and supporting Texas communities in crisis,” Johnson said.

The National Weather Service falls under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Calls for Investigation

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Monday urged Commerce Department Acting Inspector General Duane Townsend to launch an inquiry into weather service staffing shortages and if they contributed to the “catastrophic loss of life and property” in the Texas floods.

“As those impacted begin to mourn their catastrophic loss and start to rebuild their communities we must do everything possible to provide answers as to why the community was not alerted sooner that dangerously high floodwaters were imminent – both to bring some semblance of peace to those impacted and to insure we do everything within our power to make sure it doesn’t ever happen again across the U.S,” Schumer wrote in a letter to Townsend.

He cited a New York Times report that key weather service positions in Texas were vacant. The service has been pushed to reduce its staffing numbers under Trump, according to the Times.

Forecasting and Warnings

Local and state officials initially pointed to forecasts that underestimated the amount of rainfall.

Many weather forecasting experts have said flash floods are unpredictable and downplayed the potential impact of staffing on the warnings.

Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization, told NBC News the weather forecasting offices had adequate staffing and resources, although he also expressed concern about unfilled senior jobs.

Political Reaction

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday blaming Trump for the floods is a “depraved lie” the president’s critics are promoting at a time of national mourning.

“In the leadup to this tragic natural disaster, the National Weather Service did its job,” Leavitt said. “Despite unprecedented rainfall the National Weather Service executed timely and precise forecasts and warnings.”

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee that has oversight of NOAA, with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday on Trump’s nominee to lead the agency.

Lessons Learned and Future Steps

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, said in a statement her heart goes out to the families of those lost and to El Paso first responders who have joined the search and rescue operation.

The focus appropriately remains on recovery and helping those most in need, Escobar said.

“However, this painful tragedy must serve as a dire warning to the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans,” she said. “The experts who work for the agencies charged with predicting inclement weather and those tasked with assisting in recovery efforts after they happen play a critical role in saving lives. We must work together to ensure these programs and agencies, along with climate change mitigation, are fully funded and fully staffed.”

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, also thanked the first responders and volunteers. He said flash floods are happening more frequently, including an event in San Antonio last month that caused 13 deaths.

“Once the search and rescue mission is completed, leaders at all levels of government — local, state, and federal — must work together to identify meaningful solutions that prevent this type of tragedy from happening again,” Castro said.

Conclusion

The devastating Kerr County floods have sparked calls for investigation and raised questions about the role of weather service staffing levels in the tragedy. As the search and rescue operations and recovery efforts continue, it is clear that there will be a need for retrospection and examination of what happened to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What caused the Kerr County floods?

A: The floods were caused by heavy rainfall in the area, which led to flash flooding.

Q: Were there any warnings issued before the floods?

A: Yes, the National Weather Service issued warnings before the floods, but some officials have questioned whether the warnings were adequate or timely.

Q: What is being done to investigate the tragedy?

A: The House Homeland Security Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee are planning to investigate the tragedy, and the Commerce Department Acting Inspector General has been urged to launch an inquiry into weather service staffing shortages.

Q: How can we prevent similar tragedies in the future?

A: Experts say that fully funding and staffing weather service agencies, as well as addressing climate change mitigation, can help prevent similar tragedies in the future.