NWS gave uneven warnings, faced communication gaps in deadly Texas flood, watchdog finds
Source: Scripps News
Posted 12:01 AM, Apr 11, 2026 and last updated 12:01 AM, Apr 11, 2026
A federal watchdog investigation into the National Weather Service's emergency warning systems ahead of last year’s fatal flooding in central Texas found that officials provided a timely, life-saving warning to one hard-hit community but gave dangerously short notice to another just downstream, highlighting a stark disparity in the agency's response.
The report also confirmed significant vacancies in the relevant NWS office during the flooding, though staff there told investigators such openings did not impact officials’ response. Democrats in Congress first sought the inquiry amid allegations that the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal workforce hampered local officials’ ability to respond.
Miles away, minutes apart
The report — initiated by the Department of Commerce Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in response to the Democrats’ requests and obtained by Scripps News on Friday — cited a breakdown in communication with local officials in Kerr County as the catastrophic flood on the Guadalupe River unfolded in the early morning hours of July 4, 2025, leading to what the report called "widespread and severe property damage, injury, and loss of life."
According to the OIG investigation, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Warning for the area around Hunt, Texas, at 1:14 a.m., providing an estimated 106-minute lead time before the river reached flood stage. However, for the city of Kerrville, just 9.5 miles downstream, the effective lead time was only 26 minutes, falling well short of the Service’s 65-minute performance goal.
Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/us-news/nws-gave-uneven-warnings-faced-communication-gaps-in-deadly-texas-flood-watchdog-finds
Link to Commerce Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) REPORT (PDF) - https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/28035483/oig-26-017-i-secured.pdf
(apparently one of the few OIGs still left as 45 got rid of most of them)
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