Texas Hill Country Flash Flood Kills 136 Reveals Emergency Failures

Central Texas experienced a catastrophic flash flood on July 4, resulting in at least 136 deaths, including many children and counselors at Camp Mystic, a long-established summer camp for girls. The emergency response was marked by chaos and communication failures, with top officials asleep or absent, and critical warnings either delayed or not received by many residents. First responders, including firefighters and police, struggled with limited guidance as they raced to rescue people trapped by rapidly rising waters. Kerr County's alert system, CodeRed, was notably underutilized during the crisis despite requests from rescuers, contributing to the delayed emergency response. A multi-state team, including urban search and rescue specialists and canines from Minnesota, joined recovery efforts, focusing on victim recovery amid extensive devastation along the Guadalupe River. The disaster raised serious questions about preparedness and emergency management at local and state levels.