The aftermath of Texas’ devastating floods has left 82 dead and 41 missing, with the small community of Kerr County bearing the brunt of the tragedy. Camp Mystic, a beloved summer retreat, became a site of unspeakable loss when floodwaters swept through, killing 68—including 28 children.
Now, critics are asking whether budget cuts during Trump’s administration left Texas unprepared. The National Weather Service (NWS) and NOAA faced significant staffing shortages, including in key forecasting roles that could have provided earlier warnings. A New York Times investigation found that the San Antonio NWS office lost its lead meteorologist in April, leaving the region vulnerable.
Kerr County officials admitted no evacuation orders were issued before the floods hit, raising questions about whether better forecasting could have saved lives. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, added fuel to the debate by bluntly stating that Trump’s NOAA cuts contributed to the disaster. The AI’s response went viral, with many accusing both Trump and Musk of negligence.
Trump has since declared Kerr County a disaster zone and pledged to visit, but for grieving families, the damage is already done. As the floodwaters recede, the real tragedy may lie in the missed warnings that could have prevented so much loss.
