The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a new flash flood watch for central Texas through 7 p.m. local time Monday, as rescue and recovery efforts continue after the deadly flash flood over the weekend.
“The situation on the ground remains dangerous and there could be additional public safety threats with potential incoming heavy rain,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said at least 91 people are dead, including 28 children. The search is on for 41 people who are known to be missing, including 10 girls from Camp Mystic.
The Christian camp released a statement Monday grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors.
“We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls,” the statement said.
“We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.”
President Trump signed a disaster declaration and said he’ll visit Texas on Friday, if rescue and recovery efforts allow.
“The entire Trump administration is working hand-in-glove with state and local officials to provide every assistance available,” Leavitt said.
Kerr County experienced about six months worth of rain over the course of four hours Friday, causing the Guadalupe River to rise to the height of a two-story building.
Hundreds were rescued by helicopter, some of them “clinging to trees to save their lives,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said.
Amid the grief, questions are emerging about the preparedness of the NWS and others tasked with preventing casualties from weather events.
“The fact that you have girls asleep in their cabins when the flood waters are rising, something went wrong there,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on Fox News. “We’ve got to fix that and have a better system of warning to get kids out of harm’s way.”
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), whose district includes Kerr Country, said: “There’s going to be a lot of finger-pointing, a lot of second-guessing and Monday morning quarterbacking. There’s a lot of people saying ‘why’ and ‘how,’ and I understand that.”
Democrats are calling for an investigation into the possible role of staffing cuts at the NWS.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Texas) sent a letter to the acting Inspector General at the Department of Commerce seeking an inquiry into “whether staffing shortages at key local NWS stations contributed to the catastrophic loss of life and property during the deadly flooding.”
The White House is seething at the allegation, which has also been raised by some news outlets.
“Unfortunately, in the wake of this once in a generation natural disaster, we have seen many falsehoods pushed by Democrats… and some members of the media,” Leavitt said. “Blaming President Trump for this flood is a depraved lie and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning.”
Leavitt said that NWS was adequately staffed and that some branches were overstaffed, pointing to flash flood warnings that went out hours before the weather event.
“The NWS did its job,” Leavitt said.
Meteorologists have noted the rare combination of elements, including the ferocity of the overnight surge, the tricky Hill Country terrain and the great number of people out in nature for the national holiday.
DHS released a thread on X saying the “mainstream media is deliberately lying about the events leading up to the catastrophic flooding in Texas.”
“The National Weather Service executed timely, precise forecasting and warnings, despite unprecedented rainfall overwhelming the region,” DHS said, adding a detailed timeline of when warnings and alerts went out ahead of the flash flood.
Trump said there’s no evidence to suggest staffing cuts had anything to do with the tragedy, calling it “a horrible thing” that “happened in seconds.”
“I would just say this is a 100-year catastrophe, and it’s just so horrible for all,” Trump added.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) was asked on CNN about concerns over NWS staffing: “I don’t want to sit here and say conclusively that that was the case, but I do think that it should be investigated.”
The Texas Tribune has a detailed look here at the timeline of events.
