Trump travels to Texas, which has been hit hard by floods, as criticism of his response grows.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump traveled to Texas amidst rising concerns regarding the response of local authorities to flash floods that have claimed at least 120 lives, including many children.

Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, he boarded Air Force One to meet with first responders, families affected by the disaster, and local leaders in central Texas's Hill Country. This visit came a week after severe rain and a swollen river caused extensive destruction, carrying away homes, camp cabins, recreational vehicles, and people.

They were expected to arrive in Kerrville around noon, a city hit hardest in Kerr County, where 96 deaths have been confirmed due to the unprecedented flooding.

Before departing from the White House, Trump told reporters, “We’re going to be there with some of the great families” of those who lost their lives, describing the catastrophe as a “terrible thing.”

The search for over 170 individuals still missing, including five girls who attended summer camp, entered its eighth day as rescue crews sifted through heaps of debris and mud.

However, the lack of live rescues this week has raised fears that the death toll may continue to increase.

Trump has dismissed inquiries about how his cuts to federal agencies may have affected the flooding response, calling it a “100-year catastrophe” that “nobody anticipated.”

On Thursday, Kristi Noem, head of the Homeland Security Department, praised the initial response, labeling it as “swift and efficient.”

Later that day, as Texas officials were questioned regarding the purported delays in sending emergency evacuation alerts to those along the flooded Guadalupe River, Trump showed his support for a flood warning system.

“After witnessing this awful event, I would expect alarms would be triggered if large amounts of water are detected,” Trump explained in a phone interview with NBC News.

“But local officials found themselves in a situation as challenging as everyone else,” he added.
– FEMA inquiries –

The recent floods, which have claimed numerous lives across America, reignited discussions about former President Trump’s initiative to eliminate the federal disaster response agency FEMA, shifting more responsibilities to state governments.

This past weekend, FEMA initiated its operations to address the flash floods in Texas after Trump enacted a disaster declaration to make federal resources available.

However, the president has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the agency’s future. During a government review meeting on Wednesday, Noem firmly stated that FEMA should be “abolished” as it currently exists.

Authorities in Kerr County, located along the Guadalupe River in a region known as “Flash Flood Alley,” reported that at least 36 children tragically lost their lives in the catastrophe that coincided with the start of the Fourth of July celebrations.

Emerging reports have highlighted delays in local early warning systems that might have helped save lives.

Experts maintain that weather forecasters performed effectively, issuing timely and precise alerts despite the rapid change in conditions.

Sheriff Larry Leitha from Kerr County mentioned, “I was informed between 4:00 and 5:00 am” about the incoming emergency calls.

On July 4, at 4:22 am, ABC News revealed that a firefighter from Ingram, upstream from Kerrville, requested the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office to warn residents in nearby Hunt about the impending flood.

According to the network’s affiliate KSAT, audio of the call was obtained, which indicated that the initial alert took 90 minutes to reach Kerr County's CodeRED notification system.

In certain instances, the warning only reached people after 10:00 am, by which time many individuals had already been swept away.

The flooding along the Guadalupe River was particularly catastrophic for summer camps located along its banks, including Camp Mystic, where 27 girls and counselors lost their lives.