Tragic flash floods as death toll rises to 82
Texas Flood Tragedy Sparks Scrutiny Over Weather Service Budget Cuts as Death Toll Rises
By: Independent Correspondent | June 21, 2025
Severe flash flooding across central Texas has left 82 confirmed dead and dozens still missing, sparking a wave of criticism from local officials who say the tragedy may have been worsened by staffing shortages at federal weather agencies.
Among the dead are at least 28 children, most from Kerr County, one of the hardest-hit areas. Authorities there have reported 41 individuals unaccounted for, including several girls and a camp counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian retreat along the Guadalupe River.
“This tragedy has devastated us and our entire community,” Camp Mystic said in a statement. “Our hearts are broken alongside the families that are enduring this tragedy.”
As the scale of the disaster unfolds, some officials are pointing fingers at the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), suggesting that delays or failures in warning systems may be linked to budget cuts and staffing vacancies.
According to the New York Times, critical positions at both agencies—such as hydrologists and meteorologists—were unfilled ahead of the flooding. These vacancies, officials claim, could have affected how effectively severe weather warnings were communicated to local emergency teams.
Tom Fahy, legislative director of the National Weather Service Employees Organization, confirmed that the San Angelo office was operating without three key roles, while the San Antonio office lacked a warning coordination meteorologist and a science officer.
The warning coordination meteorologist in San Antonio had reportedly accepted an early retirement package just weeks before the floods hit, as part of cost-cutting efforts under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The retirement incentives were approved earlier this year under the Trump administration’s push for reduced federal spending.
However, Fahy also noted that some of these vacancies may date back before President Trump’s return to office in January 2025, complicating efforts to assign direct blame.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly responded to questions about the lack of evacuations at Camp Mystic by saying, “I can’t answer that. I don’t know.” The comment has fueled frustration among affected families and sparked renewed debate about emergency preparedness in the face of extreme weather events.
Despite the criticism, some former NWS officials defended the agency’s response. They claim the forecasts provided were as accurate as possible, given the unpredictable and fast-developing nature of the storms.
In response to the devastation, President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County on Sunday, July 9. He is also expected to visit the area later this week.
This disaster has reignited the ongoing national conversation about the balance between government efficiency and the importance of maintaining critical infrastructure—especially in an era of increasingly extreme weather.