Legislation to Create a National Disaster Review Board

[Mike Smith]

Here's a preliminary report on the Texas catastrophe.

"We Didn't Know This Flood Was Coming"

...so said the chief executive of Kerr County, Texas, Rob Kelly. He went on to say, "We had no reason to believe that this was going to be a...

www.mikesmithenterprisesblog.com

This is a situation where I can't interview camp officials or emergency managers. Because fatal Hill Country flash floods are relatively common, what -- if any -- special systems are in place? Again, I have no way of investigating. We desperately need the NDRB. Write your congresspeople if you haven't already.

 

[John Farley]

I think the article linked below gets at some aspects of the problem.

https://www.kxan.com/investigations/conflicting-officials-social-posts-leave-evacuation-delays-questions-in-kerr-county-flooding/

I have seen quotes saying that the county does not have a warning system - despite the fact that 10 people died in a similar event in 1987. That said, it is not clear whether these quotes refer to a river warning system, sirens, or any kind of warning system at all. One would think they would at least have an opt-in system for warnings by text or email - most counties do - but I do not know if Kerr County does. I did see an online petition for the county to establish a siren system, so I would think that at least they do not have that.

I agree with Mike that this is another case where there is a clear need for a disaster review board. A perfect example of why one is needed.

 

[Matt Zumbrunn]

Here's a preliminary report on the Texas catastrophe.

"We Didn't Know This Flood Was Coming"

...so said the chief executive of Kerr County, Texas, Rob Kelly. He went on to say, "We had no reason to believe that this was going to be a...

www.mikesmithenterprisesblog.com

This is a situation where I can't interview camp officials or emergency managers. Because fatal Hill Country flash floods are relatively common, what -- if any -- special systems are in place? Again, I have no way of investigating. We desperately need the NDRB. Write your congresspeople if you haven't already.

I would also point to the Wimberly TX flood of 2015 as another example of Flash Flood Alley doing its thing. I am sure they will rebuild along the river and this will happen again.

 

[Mike Smith]

I would also point to the Wimberly TX flood of 2015 as another example of Flash Flood Alley doing its thing. I am sure they will rebuild along the river and this will happen again.

Not if we can get a NDRB, hopefully.

 

[John Farley]

Here is an excerpt from New York Times live updates that is relevant to both the local government and NWS aspects:

"In an interview, Rob Kelly, the Kerr County judge and its most senior elected official, said the county did not have a warning system because such systems are expensive, and local residents are resistant to new spending.

“Taxpayers won’t pay for it,” Mr. Kelly said. Asked if people might reconsider in light of the catastrophe, he said, “I don’t know.”

The National Weather Service’s San Angelo office, which is responsible for some of the areas hit hardest by Friday’s flooding, was missing a senior hydrologist, staff forecaster and meteorologist in charge, according to Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization, the union that represents Weather Service workers.

The Weather Service’s nearby San Antonio office, which covers other areas hit by the floods, also had significant vacancies, including a warning coordination meteorologist and science officer, Mr. Fahy said. Staff members in those positions are meant to work with local emergency managers to plan for floods, including when and how to warn local residents and help them evacuate.

That office’s warning coordination meteorologist left on April 30, after taking the early retirement package the Trump administration used to reduce the number of federal employees, according to a person with knowledge of his departure.

Some of the openings may predate the current Trump administration. But at both offices, the vacancy rate is roughly double what it was when Mr. Trump returned to the White House in January, according to Mr. Fahy."

The full article can be found at the link below and as far as I can tell, is not subject to a paywall. However, since it is in a live updates feed, it will move farther down below more recent updates and may be available just for a limited time.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07/05/us/texas-floods#texas-floods-warnings-vacancies

 

[JamesCaruso]

@Mike Smith - I read your blog post linked above - you mentioned the San Antonio office vacancies, and the NYT info that John posted corroborates the vacant positions, but according to the NYT the WCM was in fact a DOGE casualty, so not necessarily “typical.”

Your blog post did not mention the San Angelo office. I’m curious as to your take on how/where responsibility for these particular regions falls between offices, and also your take on the San Angelo vacancies - which I assume are not DOGE-related, or the NYT would have surely mentioned it.