Texas Lawmakers Slam Local Leaders Over Failures in Kerr County Flood Response

Judge Rob Kelly of Kerr County was the target of harsh criticism from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Thursday, who criticized his lack of presence during the early hours of the July 4 flood that destroyed the county and claimed over 100 lives. 

Patrick accused Kelly of failing to perform his duty by not being on the ground when the crisis started during a Senate hearing on the deadly flooding.

"I am not sure where you were on July 4, Day One, but you ought to have been here," Patrick said to Kelly. "You were not there, and everyone else was working their ass off."

Kelly acknowledged that when the emergency calls came in, he was at his Lake Travis house getting ready for a family get-together. Legislators were not convinced, despite his claims that he reacted quickly to calls from officials in the early hours.

There was a delayed emergency response despite warnings, according to new testimony. The first urgent 911 call from a family requesting roof evacuation came at 3:34 a.m., despite the National Weather Service having issued flood alerts earlier in the morning. Just before 4 a.m., there were reports from Camp Mystic, where three staff members and 25 campers later perished.

Sheriff Larry Leitha and W.B. "Dub" Thomas, the county's emergency coordinator, were among the emergency personnel who were subjected to intense interrogation. When the flood occurred, neither was immediately available. 

Rep. Ann Johnson, a Democrat from Houston, described the absence of essential decision-makers as "very disturbing."

Kelly was responsible for issuing evacuation orders under Texas law, but she said it was "too late." The absence of procedures to guarantee backup leadership in such emergencies worried lawmakers.

Kelly stated merely that "the press has been offensive and intrusive" following the hearing, declining to provide any other comments.

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