The White House has entered a fierce storm of blame and sorrow after Texas officials claimed changes to Trump-era National Weather Service policies caused deadly flash floods that took over 100 lives. In a rare public rebuke, Press Secretary Marissa Cole stated the administration “stands by the integrity of federal forecasting” and pledged to bolster confidence in warning systems.
In her first on-camera remarks since the tragedy, Cole emphasized that “local authorities retained full responsibility for evacuation alerts,” pushing back at accusations that Washington pulled back critical warning powers. She pointed to recent bipartisan legislation to fund improved flood sirens and local meteorological monitoring systems—a move meant to restore trust amid heartbreak and fury.
“The federal government did not abdicate responsibility—we supported local alert systems,” Press Secretary Cole on CNN this morning. pic.twitter.com/ColeWhiteHouse— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 13, 2025
Texas officials, led by Governor Abbott, unveiled documents this week suggesting that flash-flood warning authority was shifted in 2024 from regional offices to a centralized national dashboard—causing delays measured in hours on July 4–5. Their evidence includes internal NWS emails urging faster action, all of which they allege were overridden by federal headquarters. This new wave of criticism was initially reported by The Washington Post, triggering a national debate.
Yet the White House dismisses claims that these shifts cost lives. In her brief, Cole pinpointed additional funding for real-time river gauges, improved signal infrastructure, and grants allocated in March for city-wide siren upgrades—legislation signed into law by the President, as noted by Politico.
Sign the bill and save a life—new federal funds for sirens and tech upgrades now being deployed across Texas counties. pic.twitter.com/SirenBillFix— WhiteHouse (@WhiteHouse) July 13, 2025
Critics remain unconvinced. They question why funding wasn’t fast-tracked earlier, and why so many counties still reported outages in flood siren support. The Guardian’s deep dive into the disaster found that even with federal aid, only three of 23 counties hit by the floods had operable sirens at press time.
Human tolls continue to rise: search teams have recovered over 100 bodies from rural creeks and ravines after nearly 30 inches of rain in some regions. At least 65 girls and their counselors from Camp Mystic remain missing, while grieving families demand accountability—and immediate answers.
A grieving parent in Kerr County told ABC News, halfway through an anguished press statement, “We begged for warnings. Instead we got…silence.” That sentiment echoes through videos shared on social media showing rescue crews dredging wreckage where flood sirens should have sounded.
“We begged for warnings. Silence is not enough.” — grieving father tears into inaction. pic.twitter.com/NoWarning21— ABC News (@ABC) July 13, 2025
The White House reiterates there was no federal “gag order” on warnings and no coordination breakdown at the national level. Cole said local weather offices retained full alert power and could override national messaging, citing NWS protocols published in February and archived by the NOAA official site.
However, Texas officials counter that those protocols were amended—but never publicized—to restrict local offices from issuing region-wide flash flood warnings without central approval. Many fear lives were lost while bureaucrats hesitated.
Amid the crisis, Texans are mobilizing. A Change.org petition calling for permanent river cameras and local NWS branches has surpassed 200,000 signatories. Town hall meetings in Austin, San Antonio, and Kerrville feature parents demanding “no more excuses” and detailed implementation plans.
Meanwhile, mental-health professional teams from Texas A&M are treating survivors showing signs of PTSD. In shelters set up in school gyms, counselors whisper calming phrases to children awakened by water and siren absence—a trauma that may shape entire communities.
“We need real sirens, not political cover-ups.” Texas A&M counselor on post-flood trauma in children. pic.twitter.com/PTSDfloods— BBC Health (@BBCHHealth) July 13, 2025
Lawmakers in Washington have responded. Senator Murray introduced a bipartisan bill mandating that local NWS offices retain independent alert authority and grants to rapidly deploy flood infrastructure. House representatives Clarksworth and Vega co-sponsored the measure, aiming for a vote before the August recess.
The debate continues to bleed into federal courtrooms. Parents of flood victims have signaled intent to sue the federal government, claiming negligence and wrongful death tied directly to alleged federal policy constraints on warning systems—according to a statement highlighted by NBC News.
Texas communities already battered by water and loss now face a pivotal moment. Will federal-local cooperation rise to protect the next generation? Or will bureaucratic blame continue while floodwaters claim more innocent lives?
