Disaster Overview - Over 160 people are missing in Kirk County alone due to flooding, with over 170 missing across six affected counties [1][2][5] - The Guadalupe River area is heavily damaged, with debris scattered and homes damaged [2][3] - Some individuals have been swept away for distances of 15 to 20 miles [3] Warning System Failure - Concerns exist regarding the lack of adequate warning systems for residents near the Guadalupe River, including camps and areas with poor cell service [6] - A proper warning system, including sirens, was not in place despite years of discussion and funding issues [7][8] - The city of Comfort, which has warning sirens, experienced no fatalities from similar flooding [8][21] Government Response and Funding - The state government has a "rainy day fund" of approximately $30 billion and plans to use it to fund a warning system [9] - There is criticism of past decisions to slash government services at the federal, state, and local levels [16][17][18] - The federal government, through FEMA, is providing support, but the administration has previously considered cutting disaster response agencies [28][29][30] Political Implications - The San Antonio Express News editorial board criticizes officials for scapegoating the National Weather Service and emphasizes the need for proactive disaster prevention [12][13][14][15] - There is discussion about the appropriate role of federal versus state governments in disaster response, with concerns that states alone are not always capable of handling major disasters [11][31][32][33] - President Trump plans to visit Texas and the federal government is pledging support, but his past consideration of eliminating FEMA raises concerns [26][27][30]