Trump visits Texas flood-hit Kerrville
US President Donald Trump visited Kerrville, Texas, to meet with local officials and address the devastating flash floods that resulted in over 120 fatalities. During a roundtable discussion following a tour of the affected areas, Trump expressed his condolences and support for the victims, stating, "I've never seen anything like this." He emphasized the administration's commitment to taking significant actions to prevent future disasters.
The floods, which occurred during the July 4 holiday, were triggered by torrential rains that caused the Guadalupe River to overflow. Search teams have been working tirelessly to locate the many individuals still reported missing, but no survivors have been found since the initial flooding. In response to the disaster, the Texas state legislature is set to convene a special session to investigate the flooding and allocate disaster relief funds.
Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania, pledged to "fully fund" federal recovery efforts and signed a major disaster declaration for six counties, including Kerr. He praised local responders, Governor Abbott, FEMA, and the Coast Guard for their efforts. During his visit, he expressed deep sympathy for the victims, referring to them as "a lot of young angels," and interacted with grieving families.
When questioned by a CBS reporter about whether earlier warnings could have saved lives, Trump reacted defensively, labeling the inquiry as "evil" and asserting that the emergency alerts were timely and adequate. This response comes amid ongoing criticism regarding FEMA's staffing and funding cuts to the National Weather Service. Texas lawmakers are now investigating gaps in flood warning systems, noting that while initial alerts were sent via cell phones, Kerr County lacked a siren system despite previous funding requests being denied.
