Texas Flood Response: Disaster Chief Addresses Concerns
Following the devastating Texas floods over the July 4th weekend, which tragically claimed the lives of at least 138 people, the top emergency coordinator in Kerr County, William “Dub” Thomas, has finally addressed growing concerns about the county's response. He offered his first public remarks during a joint hearing held by the Texas Senate and House’s select committees on disaster preparedness.
Disaster Coordinator's Statement
Thomas defended his actions, stating, "To those who ask, what would you have done differently? The honest answer is that, based on the data we had at the time, there was no clear indicator that a catastrophic flood was imminent." He added, "The situation evolved faster than anyone could have predicted." This statement comes after weeks of scrutiny regarding his absence from key city council meetings and a perceived lack of explanation for the tragedy.
Concerns were raised by Texas State Representative Ann Johnson, who noted that key personnel were unavailable as the Guadalupe River began to rise rapidly. Thomas was reportedly ill and in bed, while Judge Rob Kelly, the area’s highest elected official, was at his family’s lake house, and Sheriff Larry Leitha was asleep until hours after the initial warnings.
Timeline of Events and Response
Officials from Ingram, a nearby town, have also questioned Thomas's whereabouts and who was coordinating the response during the critical hours after the National Weather Service issued its first flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. Thomas explained that he was awakened by his wife around 5:30 a.m. and didn't issue a cellphone alert because the National Weather Service had already done so. Notably, no evacuation order was issued at that time, with the first county alert arriving on July 6th.
Thomas clarified that he had fallen ill on July 2nd, and his condition worsened the following day. He spent his scheduled day off resting. “In my absence, my supervisors and sheriff’s office leadership were aware that I was off duty,” he stated.
He said that upon being alerted on July 4th, he immediately reported to the sheriff's office and was "actively coordinating" the response within 30 minutes. “There was no visible flooding on my drive into the office, but it quickly became clear that the situation was escalating,” he explained.
Frustration and Demands for Answers
Despite State Senator Charles Perry's call to avoid assigning blame, many remained frustrated by Thomas's silence in the weeks following the disaster. Even weeks after the floods, Thomas cancelled an appearance at a city council meeting, leaving constituents and leaders seeking answers.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly also faced questions regarding his response. He was at his lake house when the flooding began, and stated that they "received no alerts suggesting an extreme weather event was imminent." Camp Mystic, a nearby summer camp, flooded rapidly, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 27 staffers and campers. Kelly described the flooding as "something I could never have imagined."
The Texas flood disaster highlights the critical importance of emergency preparedness and effective communication. As the community continues to grapple with the aftermath, the focus remains on understanding what happened and preventing similar tragedies in the future.
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