Carr County officials revealed they left town and were sleeping on a devastating flood night

Both Kerr County Sheriff and his emergency management director admitted they were asleep on Thursday at the legislative hearing when it first became clear that a major flood event was unfolding. Additionally, Kerville County top executive Judge Rob Kelly left town on July 4th, a flood day.

Their testimony. It came during the joint House and Senate Panels It revealed a lack of deserved leadership in the critical first moment of the flood, which killed at least 136 people, including 27 young people and counselors in the entire girls’ camp.

Carr County Emergency Management Coordinator William “Dub” Thomas told lawmakers he was sick the day before the flooding occurred and missed two calls with Texas emergency management staff. Carr County Sheriff Larry Lacea and Thomas both admitted they were sleeping as the crisis was unfolding.

Gov. Dan Patrick expressed his frustration.

“I’m not pointing my fingers. I’m not blaming you. I just want to straighten the record. Everyone was here that day and you couldn’t find anywhere.”

Thomas first woke up to his wife about 5:30am on the morning of July 4th, about two hours after emergency rescue operations were underway, and immediately headed to the sheriff’s office.

“There were no visible floods on my drive to the office, but it quickly became clear that the situation was escalating,” he said.

Other testimony stated that local officials needed an up-to-date warning system when flash floods wiped out their homes and vehicles and left their families seeking rescue on the roof of their home earlier this month.

Others who testified Thursday before a crowd of hundreds of people — some wore green ribbons to commemorate the victims, but called for urgent improvements to better flood warnings and flood mitigation.

Kelly said residents had virtually no warning about the impending weather disaster until it was too late.

“We need stronger communication and better broadband so we can communicate better,” he said. “What I went through on July 4th was suddenly violent and overwhelming.”

Leesa presented lawmakers with a timeline for the event, and said emergency responders noticed that there was a “all hand-on deck” situation as early as 3:30am when dispatchers received a call from families left behind on roofs demanding air evacuation. However, Leesa admitted that he was not warned of the flood until about 4:20am after about an hour.

Kelly, who holds a Texas position as the county’s chief executive, testified that she left the town of Lake Travis on a flood morning and woke up around 5:30am.

Rep. Anne Johnson, a Democrat from Houston, asked Leesa if the county should have protocols in place in case three Top County officials are not available in emergencies.

“Yes, ma’am, we can really see it,” Leesa said. “Yes, I can see and maybe they can call me earlier.”

Residents along the Guadalupe River say they were caught off guard and there was no warning when rain hit. Kerr County does not have a riverside warning system After missing some opportunities To raise funds by state and local agencies.

The hearing comes as authorities begin to publish records and audio that provided new imp to the dangers and confusion that escalates early on the holiday on July 4th. They include panic-filled, confused messages from residents caught in the trees, and families fleeing with their children from a house where water is creeping up to their knees.

“People are dying,” one woman told the 911 operator in a call log released by nearby Kendall County. She says she had a young relative at a church camp in Kerr County.

“I don’t want them to get stuck at a low water intersection. And what are they going to do? They’re like 30 kids,” the woman says.

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Lathan is a legion of the Associated Press/America Statehouse News Initiative report. American Report It is a non-profit, national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms and reports on secret issues.