In the last nine years, federal funding for a system has been denied to the county as it contends with a tax base hostile to government overspending.

State officials said rescue efforts in Central Texas following devastating flooding continue, emphasizing the state's continued commitment to recovery.

A "Basic Plan" for emergency response for three Texas counties labeled flash flooding as having a "major" impact on public safety, according to a page on a city website.

Kerr County applied for federal grants to build a warning system to protect residents from flash floods. Under the Trump administration, that kind of funding is drying up.

While Kerr County officials say they didn't know how bad the July 4 flooding would be, it warned residents nearly eight years ago to "be flood aware" about the ongoing potential for "monstrous and devastating flash floods.

Multiple parts of Central Texas, including Kerr County, were shocked by flash floods Friday when the Guadalupe River and others rose rapidly.

At a Wednesday morning press conference, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha declined to answer a question about delayed emergency alerts, saying that an "after-action" would follow the search and rescue efforts. "Those questions are gonna be answered," he added.