Core Points - Hyundai and Genesis Motor America have initiated a disaster relief program in response to the floods in Texas, including a $150,000 donation and support for affected residents and first responders [1][2][3] Group 1: Financial Contributions - The companies are donating $75,000 each to the American Red Cross and the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to assist with emergency response and long-term recovery efforts [2] - A total of $150,000 is allocated for disaster relief initiatives, which includes direct customer relief and collaboration with community partners [1][2] Group 2: Customer Assistance Programs - Hyundai Capital America is offering payment relief options for eligible customers affected by the floods, allowing them to seek hardship support [3][4] - A $1,000 assistance program is available for current Hyundai owners whose vehicles were damaged, applicable towards the purchase or lease of new 2025 or 2026 Hyundai models [5][7] - A $2,000 assistance program is available for Genesis vehicle owners under similar conditions, also applicable towards new 2025 or 2026 Genesis models [6][8] Group 3: Extended Roadside Assistance - Extended roadside assistance services are provided for affected Hyundai and Genesis owners, including towing and other support services [10][11] - The extended assistance program is available until September 30, 2025, and includes services such as lockout assistance and battery services [10][11] Group 4: Economic Impact - Hyundai Motor America contributes $20.1 billion annually to the U.S. economy and supports approximately 190,000 jobs [12][13]

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]

Group 1: Core Initiative - Graham Media Group and Gray Media have launched a donation drive to support flood relief efforts in Texas, raising over $120,000 in the first 24 hours, including a $25,000 contribution from Gray and an additional $15,000 from Graham Media Group [1][2] - The campaign aims to provide essential resources such as food, housing, and financial aid to communities affected by the floods, with 100% of the funds raised going directly to on-the-ground efforts [2][3] Group 2: Company Commitment - Graham Media Group's CEO emphasized the responsibility of broadcasters to inform and assist communities during crises, highlighting the role of The Salvation Army's rapid response teams in providing essential services [2] - Gray Media's Co-CEO expressed commitment to serving affected communities for as long as necessary, acknowledging the generous response from viewers [2] Group 3: Company Background - Graham Media Group operates seven local media outlets and is involved in various digital media and marketing solutions, serving multiple states and communities [4] - Gray Media, headquartered in Atlanta, is the largest owner of local television stations in the U.S., reaching approximately 37% of U.S. television households and owning a diverse portfolio of media properties [5][6]

Disaster Impact & Response - At least 173 people are missing and the death toll has risen to 120 in Texas due to devastating flash floods [1] - The number of flood-related deaths in the US reached 145 in 2024, significantly above the 25-year average of 85 deaths per year [3] - Texas, North Carolina, New Mexico, and Chicago experienced four recorded flood events within a week [5] - Elimination of FEMA could leave states like Texas and Florida without a crucial backstop during disasters [7][8] Budget Cuts & Potential Consequences - Federal budget cuts leading to a lack of weather balloons may have slightly degraded the ability to forecast the Texas floods in advance [2] - Proposed cuts to NOAA, including climate research funding, could make the US less safe in the future [4] - The administration's proposed cuts to departments could result in hundreds of billions of dollars in bills and drain economic activity [13] - Cuts to social safety nets are being considered to pay for tax cuts [14] Political & Economic Considerations - Disasters like the Texas floods are likely to spark conversations about the impact of budget cuts, particularly those involving science and research [5][6] - Lack of disaster preparedness due to budget cuts could lead to significant economic damage [9] - Recovery efforts after disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, highlight the important role of FEMA and the potential economic impact of inadequate rebuilding [10] - Political pressure will likely mount on both sides regarding disaster relief, especially since the Texas flood occurred in a red state [11]

Core Points - Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and its partners are donating over $600,000 for flood relief efforts in Kerr County and the Texas Hill Country following the July 4th flash floods [1][2] - The relief efforts include contributions to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country's Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, matching contributions, in-kind donations, and volunteerism [1][4] Group 1: Donation and Relief Efforts - The donation will support vetted organizations providing rescue, relief, and recovery efforts in affected communities such as Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort [4] - TMNA is implementing a Dealer Match Program, matching contributions from eligible Toyota and Lexus dealers up to $10,000 [6] - Toyota Financial Services (TFS) is offering payment relief options to affected customers, including extensions and deferred payments [5] Group 2: Community Commitment - Gulf States Toyota emphasizes its commitment to supporting local communities during hardships, reflecting the company's roots in Texas [3] - Team members at the San Antonio manufacturing plant are collecting essential supplies and donations to aid ongoing relief efforts [7] - Toyota's ongoing sustainable development commitments include partnerships with organizations like the American Red Cross for disaster response [8] Group 3: Company Overview - Toyota has been a significant presence in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, focusing on sustainable mobility through its brands and dealerships [9] - As of 2025, Toyota employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. and has produced over 35 million vehicles at its manufacturing plants [10] - Toyota Financial Services, with approximately 3,800 employees and over $150 billion in assets, provides finance and related products for Toyota in the U.S. [12][13]

Core Points - Verizon is donating $100,000 to Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) to support search, rescue, and recovery operations following the Central Texas floods [1][9] - The company is waiving domestic call, text, and data usage from July 7 to August 3 for affected customers in 95 zip codes across 28 counties [2][9] - Verizon's network remains operational despite the floods, and the company is actively monitoring the situation to ensure safety and connectivity [3] Company Support and Initiatives - Verizon's donation is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of volunteer first responders in Central Texas [3][9] - The company is providing low-earth orbit satellite devices to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety in their drone search and recovery operations [3][9] - Verizon's satellite technology allows customers to access messaging and emergency SOS features in areas without traditional cellular coverage [4] Company Overview - Verizon Communications Inc. generated revenues of $134.8 billion in 2024 and serves nearly all Fortune 500 companies [6] - The company is headquartered in New York City and focuses on delivering mobility, reliable network connectivity, and security to its customers [6]

Joining us now is Gary Leblanc. He's the founder and CEO of Mercy Chefs. Gary, thank you for taking the time.I know you've got a lot to do. First of all, can you just tell us what the situation is like on the ground where you are. Well, it is it is still very frantic trying to recover bodies, but also to find those people that are missing.search and rescue teams have been working through the night and uh we we were able to feed 500 of the search and rescue and law enforcement people dinner last night and um ...