City officials in Kerrville, Texas, faced severe criticism for their unpreparedness as catastrophic flooding claimed at least 137 lives, including 108 in Kerr County alone. A newly released public records investigation revealed that City Manager Dalton Rice made unprofessional remarks mocking U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during the aftermath, sparking debate over the federal response and accountability.
The nickname ‘Homeland Barbie’ has been used online to satirize Noem since her appointment earlier this year, and the incident has sparked broader questions about institutional readiness and the handling of disaster relief. At the state level, Texas officials have resisted implementing warning siren systems along the Guadalupe River, where the flooding proved most fatal, further complicating recovery efforts.
A controversial reorganization by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led to the dismissal of a key National Weather Service officer just months before the disaster, raising concerns about preparedness. The incident has left Kerrville and surrounding communities demanding accountability and systemic reform ahead of future storms.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has sharply criticized the federal response, alleging it was politically motivated. While not directly blaming Noem for the flooding itself, Murphy accused the Trump administration of undermining FEMA’s readiness, claiming FEMA personnel were fired while flood victims were actively calling the agency for help.
Noem defended the federal response in an interview on Fox News Sunday, earlier this month, pushing back on allegations of delay, stating that more than 700 FEMA workers were on the ground within hours of a call with Texas officials. She also noted the Coast Guard was deployed immediately following that conversation.
Despite her defense, concerns persist at both the state and local levels. Critics argue that a warning siren system along the Guadalupe River, where the flooding proved most fatal, could have saved lives. The tragedy has left Kerrville and surrounding communities demanding accountability and systemic reform before the next storm strikes.
The catastrophic flooding claimed at least 137 lives across Texas, with 108 fatalities reported in Kerr County alone. Among the dead were 27 campers and staff members at Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian summer camp for girls in the town of Hunt. Authorities are now investigating whether Camp Mystic officials received and appropriately responded to flash flood warnings prior to the tragedy.
The incident has sparked broader questions about how youth camps and other vulnerable institutions assess and act on rapidly evolving weather threats. Fox News Digital reached out to Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice and the Kerrville city officials but did not receive a response.
Fox News’ Stephen Sorace and Asher Redd contributed to this report.