Ken Pagurek, the head of FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue branch, resigned after a delayed response to the Texas floods, citing frustration with the administration’s efforts to dismantle the agency. The delay in deploying FEMA’s resources was caused by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s requirement for personal approval of contracts over $100,000. This bureaucratic hurdle caused significant delays in the delivery of essential resources. FEMA is now rolling out a new internal review process aimed at speeding up the approval of “lifesaving” resources during disasters, although it is unclear if this will solve the initial problems.
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Newly released details reveal that the Camp Mystic director, Richard Eastland, delayed initiating an evacuation of the all-girls camp for over an hour after receiving a severe flood warning from the National Weather Service. During this time, heavy rain persisted, and river levels continued to rise. The director, who later died in the flood, consulted with family members, also camp staff, before ordering the evacuation, which ultimately began at 2:30 am. The delay led to chaotic conditions, leaving teenage counselors to make critical decisions and contributing to the tragedy that claimed 27 lives. In addition to the investigation of the camp, the search and recovery operations in Kerr County, where 132 people died, are expected to last up to six months.
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has refuted reports from the New York Times indicating FEMA failed to answer a significant portion of distress calls from victims during the catastrophic Texas floods. According to the Times’ findings, nearly two-thirds of calls went unanswered, a figure Noem labeled as “false,” attributing the issue to political motivations. Noem, known for her stringent cost-cutting measures, including firing numerous call center contractors, maintained the response was the “best” FEMA response in years. She also stated FEMA needs to be “redeployed in a new way” and that other federal agencies were involved in the response.
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Following a New York Times report detailing unanswered calls to FEMA in the wake of devastating Texas floods, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem dismissed the claims as “fake news.” The report indicated that a new policy requiring Noem’s signature on contracts, which she had not yet authorized, led to call center staffing shortages. Despite these reports and FEMA’s own internal assessment of being unprepared, Noem maintained that the federal response was immediate and that the agency is being “redeployed in a new way.” This denial comes amid the administration’s stated goals of dismantling or fundamentally reforming FEMA.
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Following last week’s devastating floods that claimed over 100 lives in central Texas, more flash flooding is forecasted for the region. Heavy rainfall, with some areas receiving up to 10 inches in 24 hours, has caused rivers like the Lampasas and San Saba to surge, reaching Major Flood Stage. Flash flood warnings are in effect for multiple cities, and the National Weather Service warns of ongoing or imminent flooding, particularly in Llano County. Rescue efforts are underway with a focus on saving lives as the situation remains dangerous.
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FEMA Didn’t Answer Thousands of Calls From Flood Survivors, Documents Show
It’s pretty staggering to hear that FEMA, the very agency designed to help people in times of crisis, failed to answer a significant number of calls from flood survivors. This isn’t just about a few dropped calls; we’re talking about thousands of unanswered pleas for help, at a time when people’s lives were likely turned upside down. The documents reveal a concerning situation, and it paints a picture of potential systemic failures that need serious scrutiny.
The core of the issue, as it seems, boils down to FEMA’s call center contracts.… Continue reading
Amidst the devastating Texas floods, which resulted in numerous deaths and missing persons, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delayed crucial aid by requiring her signature on contracts and grants over $100,000. According to multiple sources, this new requirement delayed the deployment of Urban Search and Rescue crews, aerial imagery, and additional staff for FEMA’s disaster call center. While Texas awaited aid, Noem took to social media to ask followers for their preference on her official portrait as a former governor. Former FEMA Director Deanne Criswell stated that these delays could have cost lives.
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U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem renewed calls to eliminate FEMA, citing its slow response to the recent Texas floods, which have resulted in over 120 deaths. However, this delay appears to be a direct result of a new policy implemented by Noem, requiring her approval for all contracts or grants above $100,000, which multiple FEMA officials said has created bureaucratic obstacles and massive delays, including the deployment of search and rescue teams. Noem’s policy, which has been criticized for potentially causing delays in emergency situations, was implemented under the guise of rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. Congressional Democrats are now calling for investigations into the Trump administration’s cuts to FEMA, which may have contributed to the devastation, and some are urging to stop the dismantling of federal agencies designed to keep citizens safe.
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Following devastating flash floods that claimed over 100 lives and left more than 160 people missing over the July Fourth weekend, Texas Governor Greg Abbott deflected questions about “blame,” stating that such inquiries are the “word choice of losers.” The governor, after touring the affected areas, emphasized the state’s focus on search and rescue efforts, as well as the recovery of victims. Questions about the timing of warnings and preparedness have emerged, with local officials acknowledging a lack of warning systems and past proposals for improvement being rejected. While search and rescue efforts continue, officials are receiving support from both President Donald Trump and the Texas National Guard, as the state will begin to address every aspect of the storm in order to prevent deadly incidents in the future.
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Following the devastating flash floods in Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, far-right conspiracists seized the opportunity to spread misinformation, often echoing sentiments from the QAnon movement. These individuals, including figures like Mike Flynn and Marjorie Taylor Greene, amplified claims of government weather manipulation and introduced bills against it. False narratives, such as unverified stories of rescued individuals, circulated widely, while blame was also placed on the Trump administration’s budget cuts and the National Weather Service. Such claims came from various corners of the internet, from social media to far-right channels, highlighting the swift spread and varied sources of conspiracy theories in the wake of the disaster.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood