LeadStory

What failures made the Texas floods so deadly?

Asked 5 hours ago

Answer

The Texas floods were made deadly by failures in warning systems, outdated infrastructure, lack of investment in river gauges and sirens, and delays or confusion in evacuation alerts. Staffing shortages at the National Weather Service and insufficient floodplain mapping also contributed to the disaster's severity.

References

How climate change made Texas flooding more violent
Icon
CNN
11 hours ago
How climate change made Texas flooding more violent

FEMA floodplain maps did not account for flash flooding, underestimating the number of at-risk structures; updated assessments show many more were vulnerable.

What makes central Texas' flash flood alley so dangerous?
Icon
CBS America
23 hours ago
What makes central Texas' flash flood alley so dangerous?

Flood warnings were upgraded while most people were asleep, and floodwaters arrived with little warning, indicating failures in timely alerting.

Officials face questions over preparedness for Texas floods
Icon
CNN
3 days ago
Officials face questions over preparedness for Texas floods

Officials in Kerr County lament the lack of a warning system and acknowledge that timely alerts were not received, with outdated early warning infrastructure cited as a key failure.

Officials face questions over preparedness for Texas floods
Icon
CNN
3 days ago
Officials face questions over preparedness for Texas floods

Officials have yet to clarify if National Weather Service warnings were pushed out via cell phone alerts, and the absence of an audible siren system is noted.

Officials face questions over preparedness for Texas floods
Icon
CNN
3 days ago
Officials face questions over preparedness for Texas floods

Warnings were not received by many, despite the National Weather Service issuing them, highlighting a failure in the alert dissemination process.

Schumer requests investigation into response to Texas floods
Icon
CBS America
4 days ago
Schumer requests investigation into response to Texas floods

Senator Schumer calls for an investigation into whether staffing shortfalls at National Weather Service offices contributed to the disaster's severity.

What Are People Asking?