Trump Will Visit Texas to Survey Flood Damage
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Kerr County failed to secure a warning system, even as local officials remained aware of the risks and as billions of dollars were available for similar projects.
President Donald Trump was expected to arrive in Kerr County, Texas, Friday afternoon, one week after the area was struck by catastrophic flooding.
At a Wednesday morning press conference, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha declined to answer a question about delayed emergency alerts, saying that an "after-action" would follow the search and rescue efforts. "Those questions are gonna be answered," he added.
The catastrophic Central Texas floods have claimed at least 121 lives and left 173 missing, as a report reveals that Kerr County officials were repeatedly denied state funding for an emergency flood warning system.
In the last nine years, federal funding for a system has been denied to the county as it contends with a tax base hostile to government overspending.
At least 118 people are dead after heavy rain led to devastating flooding in Texas. Kerr County was hit the hardest, with at least 95 deaths, including 36 children. President Donald Trump signed a disaster declaration for the county and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is on the ground there.
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FOX 7 Austin on MSNTexas flooding: Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country to announce first round of grantsThe Community Foundation says it will announce a major milestone in the response to its Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and the first round of grant recipients.
Historic Texas flood leaves 161 missing and 96 dead. Rescuers battle harsh conditions, as communities grapple with heartache and aid reaches survivors.
Plans to develop a flood monitoring system in the Texas county hit hardest by deadly floods were scheduled to begin only a few weeks later.