Kerr County Officials Under Fire for Delayed Flood Alerts Amid Deadly Texas Floods

Kerr County officials are facing intense scrutiny following revelations that emergency flood alerts were significantly delayed — by up to six hours in some cases — despite early warnings from first responders during the devastating flash floods that swept through Texas’ Hill Country on July 5, 2025. Dispatch audio obtained by ABC affiliate KSAT reveals a firefighter in Ingram requested a CodeRED alert for residents to seek higher ground as early as 4:22 a.m. on Friday, July 5. However, the first alert through Kerr County’s system reportedly didn’t go out for another 90 minutes, with some messages not arriving until after 10 a.m., by which time hundreds had already been swept away by the surging waters.

The critical lapse in communication has sparked widespread concern. At a press conference on Wednesday, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha declined to directly address questions about the delayed alerts, stating an “after-action” review would follow search and rescue efforts. This incident highlights long-standing debates over the county’s emergency notification capabilities. Records show the CodeRED system, designed to notify residents within minutes, has been in place for a decade. Despite integrating FEMA’s IPAWS in 2021 to reach more people, doubts about the system’s efficacy and funding for a comprehensive warning system have persisted among county officials for years. Ingram City Council Member Ray Howard confirmed receiving National Weather Service alerts but none from Kerr County authorities during the flood. The tragedy has reignited calls for a more robust and reliable early warning system for the region.

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