Texas Lawmakers Visit Kerr County Post-Flood for Review

Kerrville, Jul 31 (AP) - Texas lawmakers are set to travel to Kerr County, the epicenter of July 4 floods, to scrutinize the local response to the catastrophic event that claimed over 136 lives. The disaster had a severe impact on the Texas Hill Country, with most of the fatalities, including 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, occurring in Kerr County. This visit marks the first time legislators will be confronting the aftermath directly.

Local leaders, who have defended their efforts during the crisis, will be called upon to testify at Thursday's hearing. Residents will also have the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns with the lawmakers.

This hearing follows the release of public records and audio that provide a glimpse into the chaos that unfolded on that fateful day. Among the revealed content are frantic 911 calls from residents in peril, and families desperately fleeing homes inundated by rising waters. "People are dying," a woman recounts to a 911 operator, highlighting the predicament of children stranded at a church camp due to the floodwaters.

Efforts to obtain additional records, such as 911 calls and body-camera footage, have been thwarted, as Kerr County officials have denied requests under the Texas Public Information Act. Meanwhile, lawmakers are integrating flood relief into a hectic 30-day special legislative session, which has also been dominated by contentious efforts to redraw the state's congressional map.

Flood relief and disaster preparedness were added to the agenda by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in June, following pressure from President Donald Trump for Republicans to gain additional seats. Simultaneously, House Democrats have been protesting against the redistricting efforts by leaving the state, pledging not to address other legislative matters until flood relief actions are prioritized.

Lawmakers have introduced bills aimed at funding early warning systems, boosting emergency communications, and fortifying infrastructure in vulnerable flood areas. Residents along the Guadalupe River have expressed dismay over lacking such systems, pointing to missed opportunities for their implementation by state and local agencies.

While calls to assign blame remain unreciprocated by Abbott and Texas Republicans, who insist the disaster was unforeseeable, Texas Democrats have raised questions about the adequacy of infrastructure planning in rural areas. An initial hearing this month saw Texas' top emergency management official advocating for improved accreditation for county-level response personnel. (AP)

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