Texas, flash flood
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Dozens attend vigil for Texas flood victims Tue. evening
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Emergency response questioned in Texas floods
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The grim task of searching for the scores of people missing from the devastating flood that struck Texas Hill Country nearly a week ago is taking an agonizing toll on searchers.
Over the last decade, an array of Texas state and local agencies missed opportunities to fund a flood warning system, including failing to secure roughly $1 million US for a project to better protect Kerr County’s 50,
17hon MSN
A Kerrville-area river authority executed a contract for a flood warning system that would have been used to help with emergency response, local officials said.
Recordings provided to CBS News showed first responders asking for an emergency alert to be sent, but dispatchers delayed because they needed special authorization.
Kerr County applied for federal grants to build a warning system to protect residents from flash floods. Under the Trump administration, that kind of funding is drying up.
Twice, the Texas Division of Emergency Management turned down Kerr County's requests for money to improve flood warnings.
Kerr County workers affected by July 4 flooding can now apply for disaster unemployment assistance through the Texas Workforce Commission.
A 20-month-old Austin boy died in the Kerr County flash flood after his family’s home was engulfed by water, a family member confirmed.