⛈️ Kerr County Under Fire After Deadly Delay in Flood Warning System Activation
Kerr County, Texas – Officials are facing intense backlash after it was revealed that it took over 90 minutes to issue a critical emergency flood warning during the devastating flash flooding on July 4, 2025 — a delay that many say cost lives.
At approximately 4:22 a.m., as floodwaters rapidly rose, a firefighter in the town of Ingram urgently requested that the CodeRED emergency alert system be activated to warn residents downstream in Hunt, a nearby riverside community. But the request stalled. According to dispatch records, the alert required supervisor approval before it could be sent — a protocol that delayed action as the situation worsened.
It wasn’t until 5:52 a.m., more than an hour and a half later, that the first emergency alert was finally transmitted. By then, it was too late for many. Entire neighborhoods had been inundated, and multiple fatalities had already occurred. Some residents reported not receiving alerts until after 10 a.m., long after the worst of the flooding had passed.
The tragedy has exposed deep flaws in Kerr County’s emergency response system — especially alarming considering that the CodeRED system has been in place since 2014. Experts say the failure to act quickly highlights a systemic issue in the region’s emergency preparedness.
“When lives are on the line, there’s no time to wait for red tape,” said Dr. Melissa Crane, a disaster response analyst at the Texas Public Safety Institute. “A 90-minute delay in issuing a flood warning is not just unacceptable — it’s deadly.”
Residents and community leaders are demanding accountability and a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Many are calling for a complete overhaul of emergency protocols, including empowering frontline responders to issue alerts without unnecessary delay.
In a brief statement, Kerr County officials acknowledged the delay and stated that a review of emergency procedures is underway, though they stopped short of admitting fault.
Still, for many grieving families, the reassurances ring hollow.
“They had the tools. They had the warnings. And still — nothing happened until it was too late,” said Linda Reyes, a Hunt resident who lost her brother in the flooding.
As the county begins cleanup and recovery, the tragedy stands as a grim reminder of the cost of hesitation in the face of natural disasters. Officials are now under pressure to ensure that no community ever has to suffer such a preventable loss again.
💔🚨 Lives lost. Lessons still being learned.
Kerr County, Texas, faced harsh criticism after emergency officials took over 90 minutes to send out a flood warning during the deadly July 4, 2025, flooding.
At 4:22 a.m., a firefighter in Ingram urgently requested the activation of the CodeRED emergency notification system to warn residents in the nearby town of Hunt. However, the dispatcher indicated that the alert required supervisor approval before proceeding.
The first emergency notification was finally sent at 5:52 a.m., over an hour and a half after the request was made. By then, floodwaters had already claimed numerous lives, with some residents receiving alerts as late as 10 a.m.
The delay in communication has raised significant concerns about the county’s preparedness and response protocols. Despite the CodeRED system being in place since 2014, the slow response exposed flaws in the county’s emergency system, which could have helped save lives if activated sooner.
Experts have criticized the lack of timely action, highlighting the urgent need for faster, more efficient communication during natural disasters. The delay has led to calls for accountability and improvements in the county’s emergency management practices.
Officials and residents alike are now questioning the effectiveness of the existing systems, with calls for reevaluating protocols to ensure that such a delay never happens again. 
The tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the importance of quick, decisive action in times of crisis.