State legislators to question Kerr County officials about deadly July 4 flood response

KERRVILLE, Texas — State legislators are set to publicly question local officials for the first time since at least 137 people died in deadly July 4 floodwaters in Kerr County, with a hearing scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday that could finally provide answers about the emergency response.

The joint legislative committee hearing represents the first opportunity for public testimony from flood victims and local officials, including Kerr County Emergency Operations Manager Dub Thomas, since the devastating floods that claimed more than 100 lives.

This hearing differs significantly from last week’s joint meeting with state legislators in Austin, where there was no local representation. Top officials chose not to attend that session because they didn’t want to pull resources away from the ongoing recovery mission in Kerr County.

The state’s joint committee is working to determine exactly what happened during the response to the July 4 floods, with particular focus on how prepared officials were for the flooding and their emergency response protocols.

Key questions have emerged about the county’s warning systems. Kerrville did not have an outside siren system to warn people along the river about the approaching danger. Additionally, there are questions about whether the county’s Code Red alert system was activated early enough to warn residents about the incoming wall of water.

Since July 4, officials have side stepped and deflected answering questions so this really could be a chance to learn more about what happened and when.

The hearing is expected to provide the first comprehensive public examination of the emergency response that has faced scrutiny in the aftermath of one of the deadliest flooding events in recent Texas history.

KHOU 11 will provide live coverage of the hearing from Kerr County as legislators seek answers about the response that has left families and survivors demanding accountability.