Texas Sheriff Admits Delayed Response Contributed to 136 Deaths in Deadly Floods

Texas Flood Tragedy: Emergency Coordinator Asleep During Crisis, Sheriff Reveals
[Image 1: Sheriff Larry Leitha addressing media]
Caption: Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed the emergency coordinator was asleep as floods devastated Kerr County.

A Texas sheriff disclosed that Kerr County’s Emergency Management Coordinator, W.B. “Dub” Thomas, was likely asleep at home during the catastrophic July 4 floods that killed 136 people, including 27 children and staff at Camp Mystic. Sheriff Larry Leitha told CNN that Thomas, responsible for coordinating disaster response, had worked the prior evening but was unavailable as the Guadalupe River surged over 30 feet, engulfing the camp and nearby areas.

Timeline of Missed Alerts
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. CT—three hours before the river’s peak. By 3:06 a.m., alerts escalated to a “very dangerous flash flood event,” with waters swamping Camp Mystic’s Bubble Inn cabin, where 15 victims perished. Despite advance warnings as Tropical Storm Barry approached, the county’s emergency operations center remained inactive during the critical 1–3 a.m. window.

[Image 2: Flooded Camp Mystic cabins]
Caption: The Guadalupe River submerged Camp Mystic, claiming 27 lives, including 15 in the Bubble Inn cabin.

Systemic Failures Exposed
Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd testified at a state hearing that local authorities failed to act on NWS alerts. While state resources were pre-staged, Kidd noted gaps in communication: “No system ensures local coordinators receive the same alerts we do.” He also criticized Kerr County’s outdated emergency equipment discovered post-disaster.

Sheriff Leitha admitted the rural county lacks 24/7 emergency operations, stating, “We don’t have round-the-clock services.” Under Texas law, local officials hold authority during disasters, limiting state intervention.

Calls for Accountability and Upgrades
[Image 3: Infographic of flood alert timeline]
Caption: NWS alerts began hours before the river peaked, but key response systems were inactive.

AccuWeather’s Jonathan Porter emphasized the need for constant monitoring, revealing his team issued life-threatening flood alerts 30 minutes before the NWS. “You can’t be asleep while responsible for public safety,” he stressed.

Kidd advocated for technology upgrades, mentioning Starlink and broadband to improve rural emergency response. Meanwhile, state lawmakers pledged to review Thomas’s actions and the county’s preparedness.

The tragedy underscores urgent gaps in disaster readiness, with investigations ongoing to prevent future failures.

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