'Totally preventable': Death toll rising in historic Texas flooding

Disaster Overview - A devastating flash flood along the Guadalupe River in central Texas resulted in at least 90 deaths and many missing people [1] - The Guadalupe River rose by 26 feet in just 45 minutes, catching people by surprise [1] - The disaster is described as a "100-year catastrophe" [4][21] Impact on Camp Mystic - 27 girls from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp, died in the flood, and 10 are still missing [2] - The camp's director died trying to save the campers [2][17] - Camp Mystic is a significant tradition in Texas, impacting multiple generations of families [20][21] Emergency Response and Warnings - Initial response faced questions, with Texas officials initially blaming the National Weather Service for failing to predict the rainfall [2] - Independent meteorologists defended the NWS warnings as timely and accurate given available data [2] - The National Weather Service issued an urgent alert around 1:00 a m Friday, but many either didn't hear it or ignored it [14] - There are concerns about whether staffing shortages at the National Weather Service hindered coordination with local emergency managers [2] Political and Policy Implications - President Trump's past plans to phase out FEMA and potential cuts to federal agencies raised concerns about emergency response capabilities [2][3][8] - Senator Ted Cruz stated he would not support eliminating FEMA and trusts the National Weather Service to do its job with available resources [8][9] - The event highlights the need for better preparedness and response to flash floods in "flash flood alley" [22][23]