Hundreds of Texans share grief and question flood response at lawmaker forum : NPR

Juana Summers, host:

The response of local officials to the floods of July 4 in Texas Hill Country is in the spotlight today in Kerrville, Texas. This is the area that has undergone the most death. More than 130 people died in these floods while the rain was flowing and the rivers rose during the hours of the presales. And today, hundreds of people have aligned themselves in a youth center to have the chance to speak before a special committee of the Legislative Assembly of Texas. There were stories of sorrow, as well as criticism of how local leaders managed a storm that no one saw. Blaise Gainey of the Kut member station and the Texas press room joins us. Hi.

Blaise Gainey, Byline: Hey, how are you?

Summers: I’m fine. Blaise, tell us just what the scene you are like.

Gainey: Yeah. Well, we are in what looks like a high school auditorium with around 200 people or more in the building. There are legislators, emergency officials, then there are just a good number of ordinary Texans and every day that came here to talk about what they experienced. And while walking, you can resume certain conversations. There are people who are very frustrated and dissatisfied with the way things have been managed, some of them are always moved to date – beware, this has happened on July 4. We are about to go in a new month. But yes, many people here have lined up before the meeting that just start saying to the legislators what they have experienced.

Summers: What types of things have you heard survivors who came?

Gainey: Yes, there were stories of people who are simply not aware of the coming floods, then before knowing it, the next thing, they are having to use survival instincts to save the lives of their loved ones or their own. Here is Alicia Jeffrey Baker. His 11 -year -old parents and daughter died in the flood.

(Soundbit of archived registration)

Alicia Jeffrey Baker: My parents bought a cabin here in 2008, so it was our usual happy place. The river that we loved so much on them (crying).

Gainey: And there have been a good number of stories like this. And beware, we have not yet heard many public testimonies. Another woman spoke of having to climb their car in a cedar to survive and waited for hours before being rescued.

Summers: Local officials were burned by legislators on the actions they took during the floods. State some of the problems there.

Gainey: Yes, a lot of confusion on which makes emergency alert calls, which activates the alerts. And it seems that the protocols were simply not followed until the tee. Some emergency officials have not even been informed of the storm until people need help. Two key officials said they were sleeping when water increased. One of them was sick and the other – the county judge – was outside the city. Ann Johnson, the representative of the democratic state, said he heard stories of people on girls in camps calling for help with water around their feet – in their cabins at 2 am

(Soundbit of archived registration)

Ann Johnson: The three guys from Kerr county who were responsible for his alarm were not actually available. Do I hear that well?

Gainey: Now it should be noted that almost everyone recognized that these floods and rains were so unpredictable and fast that people did not see him coming. But it does not seem that legislators want to hear this right now. They want to know how to make sure that lives are not lost when events like these occur in the future.

Summers: Last thing, Blaise. What is the goal, the intention of this audience? What is supposed to result from it?

Gainey: Yes, well, legislators are supposed to enter and understand the recommendations, and finally propose solutions during this special session in which they are currently. They should therefore write laws on disaster preparation. They look at things like more money for early alert systems and river gauges, the rules for camps and also the standards for local emergency officials.

Summers: It’s Blaise Gainey de Kut and the Texas press room. THANKS.

Gainey: Thank you.

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