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Texas lawmakers grill Kerr County officials

Kerr County, Texas, lead emergency management official says he was asleep during deadly flooding
William "Dub" Thomas, the Kerr County Emergency Management Director since 2015, detailed his whereabouts during the crisis.
Texas lawmakers grill Kerr County officials as flood recovery plods on
Local officials emphasized the need for river gauges and real-time rainfall monitoring to better predict flash floods.
'It's a graveyard': Kerr County residents share stories of survival, recovery at flood hearing
Dozens of Kerr County residents testified at a public hearing on Thursday about the July 4 flash floods that killed more than 130 people in Texas.
Kerr County emergency officials were missing, asleep as floods raged
The hearing this morning is the first time a panel of lawmakers is visiting the hard-hit Texas Hill Country since the floods.
Did July 4 floods catch top Kerr County emergency officials sleeping? Texas may get answers soon
So far, no evidence has shown that key county emergency officials with jurisdiction along the Guadalupe River were even awake when the Hill Country floods hit.
Kerr County officials grilled for not being available when deadly flooding began
KERRVILLE, Texas — Texas lawmakers grilled Kerr County leaders Thursday about their whereabouts when deadly floodwaters raged through the Guadalupe River July 4, accusing them of essentially being missing in action when it mattered most. They learned one was sick in bed, another was asleep, and a third was at Lake Travis with his family.
Kerr County emergency coordinator defends his absence during the deadly Texas flooding
Kerr County’s emergency management coordinator, William B. Thomas IV, testified on Thursday that he was sick and asleep during the flood on July 4.
Takeaways from the heated July 4 flood hearing: Kerr County officials grilled over absences, delays
Flood relief is one of many items the Texas Legislature is taking up in the 30-day special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Texas Lawmakers Criticize Local Officials Over Deadly Hill Country Floods
Texas state lawmakers from both parties criticized local authorities in Kerr County for being unprepared for the devastating July Fourth flooding that left more than 135 people dead in their region.
Texas lawmakers fault Kerr County officials on response to deadly floods
Thursday’s special hearing in Kerr County is the public’s first chance to speak directly to legislators. “We have every right to be angry,” one woman says.
Texas lawmakers listen to testimony on deadly flooding in Kerr County
The initial chaos of the mass casualty flooding in Kerr County has begun to quiet. But the voices of the people rose as they shared their stories and tried to get answers from state leaders. The Joint Texas Senate & House Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding hearing lasted over 13 hours,
After Chronicle report, Kerr County river authority pledges $1.5 million to fund flood protection
The Upper Guadalupe River Authority put off new flood protection measures for a decade. Now lawmakers are skeptical of its ...
Kerr County officials admit lives could have been saved with better river warning system
Lives could have been saved if the Guadalupe River had a better early warning system, Kerr County officials admitted during a ...
'It threatens downstream communities and multiple recreational users': Kerr County floods pose risks to water quality
Experts warn of pathogens, debris and long-term effects on water quality after flooding at the Guadalupe River, urging ...
Exclusive: Kerr County river authority chose tax cuts over alert system upgrades before deadly floods
The Upper Guadalupe River Authority had a $3 million reserve, but cut taxes rather than replacing an outdated flood alert ...