In a devastating twist during Texas' catastrophic flooding, William "Dub" Thomas, the Kerr County Emergency Management Director, admitted to being sick and asleep when the Guadalupe River surged to historic levels. The floods killed over 100 people, including 37 children, and submerged multiple summer camps. His admission came during a Texas House and Senate hearing on disaster preparedness held in Kerrville, Texas, where he spoke about his absence during the initial stages of the emergency on July 3 and the unfolding disaster on the Fourth of July.
Thomas was home sick on the 3rd of July and missed several emergency management meetings. He was only alerted to the disaster by his wife at 5:30 AM on July 4, and he quickly mobilized emergency resources to address the situation. However, by this time, several summer camps along the Guadalupe River were already underwater, and the extent of the damage was overwhelming.
The National Weather Service had issued flood watches, but local officials, including Thomas, did not perceive the impending flood to be a major threat. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly also testified that the NWS issued flood warnings only after the floodwaters had already overtaken many camps, and the severity of the storm was not fully understood.
The hearing included emotional testimonies from those who lost loved ones in the flood, with Alicia Baker, a local resident, describing her traumatic experience of waiting for news about her daughter and parents, both of whom perished in the flood.
Texas officials, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, have vowed to improve flood-warning systems and increase preparedness to prevent future tragedies. The ongoing discussion aims to bring attention to the need for better alert systems and infrastructure to respond to flooding disasters. The hearing has raised crucial questions about the readiness of Texas' emergency management system and whether enough is being done to protect communities from unexpected natural disasters, especially in rural areas like Kerr County.
