Death Toll in Texas Floods Reaches 129 as Trump Says Warnings Were Issued Early

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As the death toll climbs to 129 and more than 160 people remain missing after catastrophic flooding in Texas, President Donald Trump says residents were given multiple warnings. Still, the timing may have limited their ability to escape.

In an interview aired Saturday night with Fox News host Lara Trump, the president stated that Texans received alerts well in advance of the disaster. “They were warned a day before, even two days before. They were warned four hours before,” Trump said. “Maybe they should have had bells or something go off, but it’s pretty dangerous territory when you think of all the times they’ve had this problem.”

Trump acknowledged that many were likely asleep when the floodwaters rose, making it difficult for them to act on the alerts. “Some people heard the warning and they got out. They were able to get to higher land,” he added.

The disaster unfolded on July 4 as the Guadalupe River surged to record-breaking levels, submerging homes and riverside campsites, including Camp Mystic in Kerr County. Families gathered for the holiday weekend found themselves caught in rising waters with little time to respond.

Missed Alerts

Local authorities are now scrutinized for failing to use a mass emergency alert system that could have sent critical warnings directly to people’s phones. The system was already in place and free to operate, and was designed to act as an alternative to a more expensive siren-based alert network. However, officials reportedly did not activate it.

Kerr County had previously applied for state funding to install a siren system, but those requests were denied. The county then opted for the digital notification system instead, which works similarly to Amber Alerts, short for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. Despite having this system available, officials did not deploy it during the flood emergency.

Critics argue that the failure to send an alert cost valuable time and potentially lives. While some weather warnings were broadcast by the National Weather Service and shared through social media, many residents were unaware of the danger until it was too late.

The timing of the floods also played a deadly role. Heavy rain fell overnight, when most people were sleeping. Emergency responders have described chaotic scenes as families scrambled to reach higher ground, some only realizing the severity of the situation when the water was already at their doorstep.

Local officials have yet to fully explain why the alert system wasn’t used. Some have pointed to limited resources, while others say protocols for when and how to issue such alerts remain unclear. Meanwhile, families across Texas are grieving, searching, and demanding answers.

The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for improved emergency preparedness and coordination between local and state agencies. As recovery crews continue to search for those still missing, questions remain about how this disaster unfolded so quickly and whether more lives could have been saved.

With more storms in the forecast, residents and leaders alike are now pushing for stronger systems and clearer communication to ensure that no warning is left unheard next time.