"Texas Flood Forecasts Were Accurate. It Wasn’t Enough To Save Lives."

"The National Weather Service issued timely alerts, meteorologists say, but few were listening in the hours before the early morning flash floods." 

"The catastrophic floods that struck central Texas on Friday show that accurate weather forecasts alone aren’t enough to save lives.

The National Weather Service issued timely warnings in advance of the deadly floods, meteorologists say. But they emphasized that forecasts are only one piece of an effective response — local authorities must be able to interpret weather warnings, communicate them to the public and help communities get to safety in time.

Now more than 80 people are dead, with dozens more missing across the region as of Monday morning, including at least 10 campers and a counselor from Camp Mystic summer camp on the banks of the flooded Guadalupe River."

Chelsea Harvey reports for E&E News July 7, 2025.

SEE ALSO:

"At Least 161 Missing, 109 Dead After Texas Floods, Abbott Says" (The Hill)

"Timeline Shows When Emergency Alerts Warned Of Texas Flood Disaster" (CBS)

"In Texas Region Prone To Catastrophic Floods, Questions Grow About Lack Of Warning" (Texas Tribune)

"Officials Feared Flood Risk to Youth Camps but Rejected Warning System" (New York Times)

"Weather Warnings Gave Officials A 3 Hour, 21 Minute Window To Save Lives In Kerr County. What Happened Then Remains Unclear." (Texas Tribune)

"Intense Downpours Like Those In Texas Are More Frequent, But There’s No Telling Where They’ll Happen" (AP)

"Conspiracy Theories About the Texas Floods Lead to Death Threats" (WIRED)

"A Month After Getting Permission, NWS Still Hasn’t Posted Help Wanted Ads" (E&E News)