On Friday morning, as floodwaters rose in Texas’s Hill Country, Kerr County officials delayed sending emergency alerts for nearly six hours after being requested to do so by local firefighters. This delay has raised serious questions about the county’s emergency response procedures and the effectiveness of its alert system.
According to reliable sources, at 4:22 a.m., an Ingram firefighter contacted the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, reporting that the Guadalupe River had overflowed its banks on State Highway 39. The firefighter requested that a CodeRED alert be sent to Hunt residents, urging them to seek higher ground or remain at home. However, the dispatch audio reveals that the request was not immediately acted upon, with the dispatcher stating the need for supervisory approval.
Reports indicate that the first CodeRED alert was not issued until 90 minutes after the initial request. More alarmingly, some residents did not receive alerts until after 10 a.m., by which time hundreds of people had already been caught in the rising floodwaters.
Kerr County has had the CodeRED Emergency Notification System in place for at least a decade. In 2021, the county integrated the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) into CodeRED, ostensibly to improve emergency communications. However, the evidence suggests that these systems may not have been utilized effectively during Friday’s crisis.
This raises important questions about the county’s emergency preparedness and the decision-making process during critical situations. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha has declined to comment on the delayed alerts, stating that an “after-action” review will follow the ongoing search and rescue efforts.
As we consider the broader implications, it becomes clear that the effectiveness of emergency alert systems and the protocols for their activation are crucial factors in protecting public safety during natural disasters.
Both sides of this issue present compelling arguments. While some county officials have expressed concerns about the cost and practicality of implementing more comprehensive alert systems, others argue that such measures are essential for public safety. The tragic events of last Friday may well influence future decisions on this matter.
