The emergency manager of Ker County testified at a hearing on Thursday that he was ill and while sleeping Malignant flash flood On July 4, Central killed Central Texas, killing at least 135 people.
William b. Thomas IV, who has been serving as County County Emergency Management Coordinator since 2015, said at the beginning of a hearing organized by state MPs in Kerville that he was in bed on 3 July a day before the flood.
“In my absence, my supervisors and leaders of Sheriff knew that I was away from duty,” Thomas said. He also testified that he missed the emergency briefing due to illness.
Authorities have faced their preparations and questions on Right of their initial functions,
Most of the deaths occurred during the flood With Guadalup River In Ker County, at least 27 campers and employees of Camp Mistic are included. There were many campers killed The youngest people of the camp,
Hill country region Naturally prone Flood flood Because its dry, dirt -filled soil cannot soak heavy rain.
Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Image 
After testimony from the authorities, the committee heard from several residents, advocates and consultants how the incidents were disclosed during the flood, as well as the challenges facing challenges and how the counties can be prepared better for future disasters. Teachers and mental health counselors also talked about the resources available to Ker County residents.
A resident who spoke at the hearing said that she lives 5 miles away Camp MisticBy 4:05 pm, as the water grows around their house, she said and her husband pulled out her pick-up truck, and “flood was chasing us, it was growing so fast.” He said that there was no way to be saved at a certain point except the helicopter, and many inhabitants made the Hunt Methodist Church for hours, do not know whether they would survive or die. He said that his house remained intact but filled with 12 feet of water.
Another resident testified that when his family tried to escape the growing water in the holiday house, the family owned for a century, the highway and the roads were stopped and fensed. Although his house was located at least 40 feet above a bluff above the normal water level, the floods moved around his house, causing them to get stuck and helpless. His family climbed on cars and trees, because the water kept moving, staying there for hours.
He emphasized the need for residents to focus on recovery for residents in Hunt and Ingram communities, where many friends and neighbors lose their homes or live in fatal storms.
Others testified that the residents found the remains of the victims in the river. State Senator Jose Menandage said in the hearing that cadever dogs should be brought for help.
Alicia Jeffrey Baker Testified Her 11-year-old daughter Amy and her parents were killed by fatal flood waters, who had drove her away from her vacation cabin in Casa Bonita. Baker said that his parents bought a cabin in 2008, and they have come in the summer since the 1990s. “The river we loved, killed them.”
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Baker said that her parents were found the next day, when she was waiting for more than 12 hours for information about what happened to her loved ones. She said that her daughter was not identified till July 10, and her body had disintegrated so badly that the way he was able to confirm that her daughter was through her attraction bracelet.
“We need to do better for people in this community,” said Baker.
