In the wake of catastrophic floods in Central Texas that resulted in the deaths of at least 90 people over the Fourth of July weekend, Rep. Joaquin Castro has called for a comprehensive investigation into the failures in warning and evacuating residents.
The floods, which predominantly affected Kerr County, located about two hours northwest of San Antonio, saw the Guadalupe River rise over 26 feet within a mere 45 minutes due to intense storms that struck early Friday morning.
Local officials are grappling with inquiries as to why residents living near the river were not given timely evacuation warnings.
The National Weather Service (NWS), which had been monitoring the situation, initially issued a flood watch on Thursday, indicating that flooding was possible.
However, a flash flood warning, signifying that flooding was imminent or occurring, was not declared until early Friday morning, after almost a foot of rain had already fallen.
In an interview with NPR, Rep. Castro emphasized the need for the NWS to be adequately staffed and prepared to collaborate with local and state agencies, especially in light of climate change, during emergencies such as the swift flash flooding observed in Central Texas.
“I think we all owe that to the community there. And also, I think we owe that to the people of this country going forward to make sure that we do everything we can to prevent something like this from happening again,” Castro stated.
Earlier this year, the NWS faced criticism after nearly 600 workers were laid off following staffing cuts mandated by President Donald Trump’s administration, with concerns that these reductions would adversely affect emergency preparedness.
In the aftermath of the public backlash about these cuts, the agency has begun the process of rehiring.
The local NWS forecast office in Austin/San Antonio has recently reported at least six vacancies.
In response to the criticisms, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed claims that the federal response to the floods in Texas was hindered by inadequate funding.
“Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie, and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning,” she asserted.
Rep. Castro’s district, which includes the western half of San Antonio and Bexar County, is still in recovery mode after experiencing flash floods last month that resulted in 13 fatalities.
Reflecting on the ongoing challenges, he noted that Kerr County would require substantial support from state, federal, and private sectors to recover and to implement measures that could avert future crises.
During the interview, Castro highlighted the commendable efforts of hundreds of first responders who have been conducting water rescues, assisting those stranded in trees or trapped in inundated vehicles.
He pointed out the limitations faced by Kerr County, which has a smaller population and tax base compared to larger areas like Bexar and Harris Counties, stressing the importance of state and federal assistance in providing resources necessary for rebuilding and improving flood mitigation strategies.
Discussing the lack of early warnings provided to residents prior to the flooding, Castro shared that some of his Senate colleagues had sent a letter to the president and the Secretary of Commerce expressing their alarm over cuts to the NWS workforce and the potential ramifications on emergency preparedness.
While he acknowledged it was premature to ascertain if these staffing reductions directly impacted the responses to the floods, Castro advocates for a thorough investigation into both federal and local failures.
He emphasized, “I think we all owe that to the community there. And also, I think we owe that to the people of this country going forward to make sure that we do everything we can to prevent something like this from happening again.”
Highlighting the urgencies ahead, Castro voiced the necessity for a robust National Weather Service that can effectively collaborate with state and local authorities in issuing timely warnings.
He stated that improvements to warning systems must be prioritized, noting that the political debate surrounding climate change has contributed to the urgency of addressing these weather-related challenges.
“These events that were supposed to be a one in a 100 year event or one in a 500 year event have been happening more often. So we have to take that issue seriously and combat it,” he insisted.
As recovery efforts continue, the outcry for answers and improvements in emergency response mechanisms grows louder, signaling the pressing need for accountability and preparedness as communities face increased weather extremities in an age of rapidly changing climate conditions.
This situation in Central Texas serves as a stark reminder of the potential repercussions of inadequate preparation and response, as well as the importance of enhancing forecasting capabilities to save lives in future incidents.
image source from：npr
