On July 4, Rob Kelly, a local official, explained the lack of evacuation of summer camps along the Guadalupe River, stating that no one expected a severe flood. Three warnings were issued by the National Weather Service that morning. Crucially, the meteorologist responsible for coordinating warnings recently retired due to budget cuts and was not replaced. This loss affected local flood preparedness, particularly in an area prone to flash floods, where inadequate communication systems hindered camp counselors’ responses to the danger.
The National Weather Service had issued three increasingly dire warnings early that morning at 1:14 a.m., 4:03 a.m. and 6:06 a.m. However, a local meteorologist responsible for ensuring these warnings gained traction retired early after budget cuts, creating a significant gap in preparedness.
Rob Kelly, the highest-ranking local official, stated that no one knew a flood of this magnitude was coming, despite Kerr County's history of recurrent floods in its perilous river valley.
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