Kerr County Failed to Alert Cell Phones as Flooding Began, FEMA Records Show
FEMA records reveal that Kerr County officials did not utilize the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) to send critical safety instructions to mobile phones during the onset of severe flooding on July 4th. While the National Weather Service issued IPAWS flood warnings, county officials did not send any wireless alerts through the system, despite having used it in the past for similar events. Experts emphasize that inconsistent policies on issuing alerts across different counties may contribute to delays, with some residents reporting that they received messages through the CodeRed system, which only reaches those who signed up for the service. This failure to promptly utilize the IPAWS system has raised questions regarding whether timely warnings could have potentially saved lives, as it’s important to get it right when people’s lives are on the line.
John Q. Hosedrinker