Uh, in the meantime, the National Governor Association is holding its summer meeting starting today and tomorrow in Colorado Springs. The current chairman, Democratic Governor Jared Poliss of Colorado, will be passing the gavl to Republican Governor Kevin State of Oklahoma, who will serve as the new chair of the NGA. Democratic Governor Wesmore of Maryland will serve as the new vice chair.And the incoming chairman, Governor Stit, joins us now along with the incoming vice chair, Governor Moore. A bipartisan ...

Core Perspective - Dr. Anosh Ahmed's foundation is launching a relief initiative to assist families affected by recent floods in Texas, focusing on financial assistance, support for grieving families, and home reconstruction for uninsured residents [1][3]. Group 1: Relief Initiative Details - The relief initiative includes direct financial assistance to families who have lost loved ones, shelter and essential supplies for displaced residents, and home rebuilding assistance for uninsured families [5][6]. - The foundation will collaborate with churches, community organizations, and first responders to ensure effective outreach [6]. - A special "Texas Strong: America First Gala" will be hosted in Dallas to raise additional funds and awareness for the relief efforts [7]. Group 2: Focus on Specific Groups - The relief plan prioritizes veterans, police officers, and military families in housing and aid programs, reflecting a commitment to support those who serve [8]. - The initiative also includes providing mental health and grief counseling resources for affected individuals [9]. Group 3: Foundation Background - The Anosh Supports America First Foundation was established to uphold American values and support military, law enforcement, first responders, and patriotic communities [3][4]. - Dr. Anosh Ahmed emphasizes that the foundation's mission extends into disaster relief, reinforcing the belief that helping those in need is a fundamental American act [3].

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]

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 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 Overview - The number of missing individuals in Kerr County remains at 161 after 24 hours of searching [2] - The death toll in Kerr County has risen to 96 [25] - The search area covers around 1,000 miles of the river and surrounding area [13] Recovery Efforts - Search efforts involve state, local, and federal agencies, as well as volunteer organizations [8][10] - Teams from other states and Mexico are assisting with the search [8][11] - Resources include helicopters, scuba divers, cadaver dogs, and horses [9][11] Community Impact - Five campers and one counselor are still missing from Camp Mystic [14][16] - The Camp Mystic community is strong and supporting each other [18][19] - Community visuals were held to remember and grieve together [17] Accountability and Future Prevention - Questions are being raised about accountability and whether more could have been done to prevent the loss of life [4] - A special session will be held to address the response and these questions [4] - Officials state they will be "very weather alert" regarding potential future flooding [6] Aid and Resources - Short-term and long-term housing, food, and clothing are needed for survivors [21] - A FEMA site is open to provide resources for those not covered by insurance [22] - Donations can be made to the Hill Country community group and United Way [19][22][23]

Disaster Relief Efforts - World Central Kitchen (WCK) is providing aid to flood victims and first responders in central Texas [1] - WCK has served over 6,400 meals in Texas [1] - WCK partners with local restaurants and chefs to provide meals and support the local economy [1] - WCK is assessing needs in underserved communities to provide "last mile meals" [1] Operational Adaptability - WCK emphasizes adaptability and flexibility in its disaster response [1] - WCK minimizes paperwork and contracts to expedite aid delivery [1] - WCK utilizes a zoned approach with maps for efficient resource allocation [1] Emotional Impact - Disaster response work can take an emotional toll on responders [1] - The Texas floods are considered a national tragedy [2] International Presence - World Central Kitchen is an international organization that has responded to disasters such as the Turkey earthquake and Hurricane Florence in North Carolina [4]

And as rescue crews continue their search for the scores of people still missing across central Texas, the Salvation Army is on the ground providing critical support for the first responders and the many residents displaced by the devastation. Joining us now is Phil Swireers who is a major with the Salvation Army in Texas. And Mike Barnacle, you have the first question.Major SWires, this event in Texas has gripped the nation and perhaps even the world. And I think part of the reason it has, obviously the lo ...

In Texas Hill Country, a community that is now mourning the deaths of at least 110 people, 30 of them children, after flash floods ravaged the region late last week. Today, 5 days after those deadly storms, Texas Governor Greg Abbott says more than 160 people are still missing in the Kirk County area alone, which saw some of the worst of that fatal flooding. But the governor vowed not to give up the search.Know this, we will not stop until every missing person is accounted for. Know this also, there very li ...