 officials were initially confused about the severity of the July 4 flooding in Kerr County.){kind=link}
Internal emails and texts obtained by ABC News reveal Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) officials were initially confused about the severity of the July 4 flooding in Kerr County.
Early morning messages expressed surprise at rising river levels, but within half an hour, the tone shifted to alarm as floodwaters swept through the region.
Tragedy Strikes at Camp Mystic
As water rescues unfolded, officials worried about the safety of campers at Camp Mystic. Initial reports suggested everyone was safe, but later messages showed uncertainty. The camp’s president and UGRA board treasurer, Dick Eastland, was among the more than 130 people killed, many of them children.
Warning System Plans Fell Through
Records show the UGRA knew of the area’s flood risks and had applied for a $1 million state grant in 2023 to install high-water detection systems. The project was dropped in 2024 over funding terms, replaced by a smaller $70,000 system that had not been implemented before the disaster.
Calls for Accountability
Staffers predicted angry public reaction and questioned how to explain the lack of an effective warning system. Some expressed hope the tragedy would push flood preparedness to the forefront, though they noted funding, bureaucracy, and technical challenges remain obstacles. State legislators are now investigating the events leading up to the flooding.
For more on the tragic Texas Hill Country floods, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.