Texans did not immediately receive flood alerts after request, audio reveals

July 11, 2025

A Texas firefighter requested emergency flood alerts for Kerr County residents approximately one hour before the first warnings were distributed, according to audio recordings obtained by US media outlets. Residents received CodeRED alerts inconsistently, with some waiting up to six hours after the initial request was made at 04:22 on July 4th. The subsequent flooding from the Guadalupe River, caused by an estimated 100 billion gallons of rain, has killed at least 120 people including 96 in Kerr County alone, with more than 160 individuals still missing.

Who is affected

Kerr County residents, particularly those in Hunt
Victims of the flash flooding (at least 120 dead, including 96 in Kerr County with 36 children)
Attendees of Camp Mystic Christian camp
More than 160 people who remain missing
Local officials who were also impacted by the floods
Emergency responders and rescue personnel (over 2,100 on the ground)

What action is being taken

Rescue efforts involving more than 2,100 responders, private helicopters, drones, boats, and cadaver-detecting dogs are currently underway
Officials are working to locate missing persons and identify victims
Authorities are attempting to construct a timeline of the emergency response
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is deployed in Central Texas with a disaster recovery center operating in Kerr County
Responders are carefully searching through hazardous debris piles for victims

Why it matters

The potential delay in emergency alerts may have contributed to the high death toll
The disaster has caused significant loss of life, including 36 children
The flooding occurred rapidly, with the Guadalupe River rising several meters in minutes, giving little time for evacuation
Communication challenges, including lack of mobile phone service, prevented some residents from receiving timely warnings
The flooding represents one of the most severe weather disasters in the region, with 100 billion gallons of rainfall causing catastrophic damage

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC