Kerrville: Trump Texas flood response has come under scrutiny after the president toured Kerr County, the hardest-hit area where flash floods killed at least 120 people on July 4.
Trump has praised Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for what he called an ‘incredible job’ handling the aftermath. However, the administration faces questions about whether the National Weather Service and FEMA cuts may have hampered early warnings.
During a roundtable, Trump dismissed criticism when asked about delayed alerts for residents. Some locals, like Lawrence Walker, have stated that more investment in prevention, such as an early-warning system, could have saved lives. Despite the concerns, others in Kerrville have supported the emergency efforts, arguing the floods were simply too powerful to stop.
Today, Cecilia & I visited Kerrville with @realDonaldTrump & @FLOTUS.
We met with Texas families & first responders impacted by the deadly floods.
Thanks President Trump for the swift support you deployed to Texas.
Together, we are Texas Tough.
More: https://t.co/i5lF3mX23W pic.twitter.com/zc5TjUyjaM
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 12, 2025
The Texas legislature plans to hold a special session to investigate the disaster and approve more relief funds. Meanwhile, critics have pointed out that the President’s large legislative package, passed the same day as the Texas floods, slashed funding for emergency services. At a local gas station, a message blamed Trump’s spending cuts for reducing Kerr County’s preparedness.
Search teams continue to look for more than 160 people still unaccounted for in the Hill Country. Many of the victims were children attending Camp Mystic, an all-girls retreat along the Guadalupe River. Residents say the river’s rapid rise from about 1 foot to 34 feet within hours made it nearly impossible for many families to escape in time.
Locals remain divided on whether building along the riverbanks should continue. Some believe tougher zoning laws could prevent future tragedies. As the debate continues, the Trump Texas flood response remains a test of the administration’s approach to national disaster management.
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