Natural Disaster Preparedness & Response - Texas legislature is expected to revisit a $500 million package for early detection and warning systems following natural disasters [1][2][4] - Texas has experienced more federal disaster declarations since 1980 than any other state in America, ranging from flash floods to hurricanes [2] - The speaker advocates for proactive preparation and infrastructure development to mitigate the impact of natural disasters, arguing it's more cost-effective than reactive responses [7][8] - The speaker mentioned the need for better adaptation and mitigation strategies in response to a changing environment [4] Recovery & Federal Assistance - Debris cleanup from the Guadalupe River disaster is estimated to take several months, if not years, potentially inundating all landfills in Texas [9][10] - There are still over a hundred people missing a week after the event, highlighting the ongoing search and rescue efforts [12] - The speaker advocates for reorganizing FEMA and streamlining disaster recovery processes by consolidating federal agencies and cutting bureaucratic red tape [14][15] - Rebuilding a home after Hurricane Harvey required over 16 permits, suggesting the need for block grants to states, counties, and cities to expedite the recovery process [16] Infrastructure & Mitigation Examples - The speaker advocated for the largest storm surge barrier in American history [5] - New Orleans successfully implemented swinging levees after Katrina, protecting the city from Category 3+ storms [5] - The Blanco River Authority allocated funds for an early detection system after the Wimberley storms in 2016 [4]

Disaster Overview & Impact - The community and nation are deeply affected by the significant loss of life along the Guadalupe River [1] - Over 160 people in Kerr County are still missing [5] - A memorial has been set up along the Guadalupe River to honor the victims [3][4][5] Accountability & Preventability - Officials were warned about the potential for a severe flooding event as early as October [2] - There is growing evidence that officials could have and should have done more to prevent the tragedy [8] - A special legislative session is scheduled for July 21st to address these issues [8] - The Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House in Texas will conduct joint investigations to understand the facts leading to the event [9] - Local officials requested a siren system multiple times, but the state denied the request [10][11] Emergency Response & FEMA Involvement - FEMA instituted a policy requiring all expenses over $100,000 to be approved directly by the Homeland Security Secretary, raising questions about potential delays in emergency relief [22][23] - Kerr County did not alert cell phones as the flooding began, and there were delays in sending out code red alerts [24][25] - The FEMA administrator has not been visible or involved in the disaster response, raising questions about FEMA's autonomy [17][18][20]

Joining me now, Jeremy Edwards, former FEMA deputy director of public affairs. Jeremy, uh, DHS Secretary Christy Gnome denies there was any delay in providing resources. As someone who has been behind the scenes, who knows how things operate on the ground.What did you see in FEMA's response. Yeah, I think and and thank you for having me um on the show today. I think what I saw in FEMA's response is a break from a typical process that has previously allowed the agency to lean forward in events like this.And ...

FEMA Response Concerns - Democratic lawmakers are raising concerns about the federal response to the Texas flooding, questioning the impact of administration cuts to FEMA and the National Weather Service [1] - The response in Texas is criticized, with claims that FEMA didn't show up with swift water rescue crews for 72 hours, a deviation from past practices [4] - There are reports of over 20% of FEMA's workforce being forced out, and key positions, like the Florida regional administrator, remaining empty [5] FEMA Reform and Current State - FEMA needed reform to be faster, but the current administration broke it, potentially intentionally, by appointing an interim administrator with zero emergency management experience [7][8] - The changes have made FEMA slower and less efficient, potentially costing lives and disproportionately hurting red states that rely on FEMA for disaster relief [9] - The reimbursement process has slowed down, impacting cities' and counties' ability to make decisions and clean up after disasters [9][10] Congressional Action and Hurricane Season Preparedness - Congress could have done more in the past eight months to address the issues at FEMA, but the damage has already been done [13] - Members of Congress from states like Louisiana should push the White House to get FEMA ready, expedite declarations, and preposition resources [14][15] - FEMA needs to revert to its established playbook for hurricane season, and members of Congress should speak up publicly about the need for preparedness [15][16]

Disaster Response & Recovery - The primary focus remains on search efforts for over 160 missing people in Kerr County, Texas [1] - The transition from rescue to recovery efforts is accelerating, increasing the urgency for closure for families of missing individuals [3] - Texas, despite being well-prepared and funded for disasters, still requires millions or billions of dollars in federal assistance [10][11] Political & Policy Implications - Presidential visits to disaster areas are often influenced by the political landscape, with contrasting rhetoric observed between visits to Texas (a red state) and California (a Democratic state) [4][6][7] - The President's plans for FEMA are uncertain, particularly regarding potential budget cuts or elimination of the agency, despite its critical role in disaster response [8][9] - A new homeland security policy requiring Secretary Gnome's approval for agency spending exceeding $100,000 may have delayed the federal response in Texas [12][13] Prevention & Preparedness - Kerr County officials warned of a likely flood event in 2024 but deferred action on flood warning systems until the plan was updated, highlighting potential failures in local preparedness [15][16][17] - Implementing robust warning systems, such as text message alerts, is crucial for informing the public about potential dangers [19][20] - The location of facilities like Camp Mystic within flood zones needs scrutiny, emphasizing the importance of considering flood risks in planning and development [21][22] FEMA's Future & Potential Restructuring - Secretary Gnome suggested FEMA needs to be eliminated in its current form and remade into a responsive agency, indicating potential for restructuring rather than complete elimination [23][24][25][26] - The President's reaction to the situation in Texas could influence his thinking on FEMA's future [27]

Disaster Relief Efforts - Federal disaster declaration signed for Kerr County, Texas, which was heavily impacted by floods [1] - Search and rescue efforts continue in affected areas along the Guadalupe River [1] Human Impact - More than 100 people have died as a result of the floods in Texas' Hill Country [1] - Scores more people are still missing [1] Government Response - President Trump participated in a roundtable with first responders and local officials in Kerrville, Texas, to assess flood damage [1]

Disaster Relief and Preparedness - Texas lawmakers will address disaster relief and preparedness in the aftermath of the flooding [1] - Texas officials had warnings of another flood in K County likely within the next year, but no action was taken despite a massive rainy day fund [4][5] - Funds passed down by the Biden administration to Kerr County were sent back, leading to underfunded National Weather Service and vacant positions that should have been alerting people [6][7] Political Implications - Texas Governor is pushing for congressional redistricting amidst the tragedy, which the Texas Democratic Party calls disgusting political gamesmanship [2][9] - The redistricting aims to take four to eight seats away from Democrats in Texas, potentially impacting the 2026 primary [11] - Republicans are allegedly using a bogus letter to claim minority protected seats are unconstitutional, potentially impacting minority districts nationwide [11][12] - The Texas Democratic Party believes the governor is scared due to Texas trending towards Democrats and the potential for Democrats to flip a United States Senate seat [13][18][19] - 1% of Democratic voters in Texas stayed home in the last election, indicating a need for the Texas Democratic Party to reconnect with its base [16]

Disaster Response & FEMA - The report highlights a delayed federal response to a tragic flooding event, with at least 121 confirmed dead and 166 still missing [1] - The report alleges that Secretary of Homeland Security Christy Gnome delayed the federal response to the flooding for more than 3 days [2] - A new policy requiring the Secretary's direct approval of any DHS contract worth more than $100,000 is criticized for creating a bottleneck in disaster relief efforts [5][6][7] - FEMA sources indicate that Secretary Gnome did not approve the deployment of urban search and rescue teams to Texas until more than 3 days after the flood [8] - A $3 million grant dedicated to creating a state-of-the-art system for warning local communities about extreme weather was canceled [12] - Concerns are raised about the potential dismantling of FEMA and the federal government's role in disaster response [16] Leadership & Governance - Secretary Gnome is accused of prioritizing social media engagement over her responsibilities as a cabinet official [3][4][8][9] - The report questions Secretary Gnome's qualifications and actions, suggesting incompetence and a focus on "performative governance" [17] - The acting FEMA administrator is criticized for a lack of experience in emergency management and absence during the disaster [19][20] - A Senator's letter to Secretary Gnome demands the release of her plan for the current hurricane season, expressing concerns about the impact of the $100,000 approval policy [15][22]

Kristen, you just spoke to the president on the phone. What did he tell you, Tom. We asked President Trump if Texas officials could have done more and if there should have been a better warning system.He told us that local officials quote love those children, love those people, and nobody ever saw a thing like this coming. This is a once in an every 200year deal, he said. In retrospect, he said after having seen this horrible event, I would imagine you'd put up alarms in some form.But he also praised Texas ...

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