Kerr County’s emergency supervisor testified at a listening to Thursday that he was sick and asleep when the deadly flash floods hit Central Texas on July 4, killing at the least 135 folks.
William B. Thomas IV, who has been serving as Kerr County emergency administration coordinator since 2015, mentioned at first of a listening to held by state lawmakers in Kerrville that he was in mattress on July 3, the day earlier than the floods.
“In my absence, my supervisors and sheriff’s workplace management had been conscious that I used to be off responsibility,” Thomas mentioned. He additionally testified he missed emergency briefings as a consequence of sickness.
Officers have confronted questions over their preparedness and the speed of their initial actions.
Most deaths in the course of the floods had been along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, together with at the least 27 campers and workers from Camp Mystic. Most of the campers who died had been the camp’s youngest attendees.
The Hill Country region is of course susceptible to flash flooding as a result of its dry, dirt-packed soil can’t take in heavy rain.
Photograph by Brandon Bell/Getty Photos
Following testimony from officers, the committee heard from a number of residents, advocates and counselors about how occasions unfolded in the course of the flooding, in addition to challenges residents are nonetheless going through and the way counties can higher put together for future disasters. Educators and psychological well being counselors additionally spoke concerning the assets obtainable for Kerr County residents.
One resident who spoke on the listening to mentioned she lives 5 miles from Camp Mystic. By 4:05 a.m., because the waters rose round their dwelling, she mentioned and her husband evacuated of their pick-up truck, and the “flood was chasing us, it was rising so quick.” She mentioned there was no option to be rescued at a sure level besides by helicopter, and plenty of residents huddled on the Hunt Methodist Church for hours, not figuring out whether or not they would reside or die. She mentioned their home stayed intact however was flooded by 12 toes of water.
One other resident testified that when her household tried to flee the rising water on the trip home the household has owned for a century, entry to the freeway and roads was blocked off and fenced. Though their dwelling was located on a bluff at the least 40 toes above the traditional water stage, flooding nonetheless rose round their dwelling, leaving them trapped and helpless. Their household climbed onto automobiles and timber because the waters swirled, staying there for hours.
She emphasised the necessity to give attention to restoration for residents within the communities of Hunt and Ingram, the place they mentioned many buddies and neighbors misplaced their properties or lives within the lethal storm.
Others testified that residents had discovered victims’ stays within the river. State Senator José Menéndez mentioned on the listening to that cadaver canine should be introduced in to assist.
Alicia Jeffrey Baker testified that her 11-year-old daughter Emmy and her dad and mom had been killed by the lethal floodwaters that swept them away from their trip cabin at Casa Bonita. Her dad and mom purchased the cabin in 2008, they usually have summered within the space for the reason that Nineties, Baker mentioned. “The river that we liked a lot killed them.”
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Baker mentioned her dad and mom had been discovered the next day after she waited greater than 12 hours for info on what occurred to her family members. She mentioned her daughter was not recognized till July 10, and her physique was so badly decomposed that the one manner they had been capable of affirm it was her daughter was by means of her allure bracelet.
“We have to do higher for the folks on this group,” Baker mentioned.
