By 3:02 a.m., the NWS stated a “dangerous flash flood event is unfolding in south-central Kerr County.” At 4:03 a.m., the NWS issued a flash flood emergency for Kerr County. "Those don’t happen very often, that’s basically one step up from a flash flood warning that’s whenever significant threat to life and property is likely,” Ruiz said.

It has been four days since catastrophic floodwaters swept through the Texas Hill Country, leaving more than 100 people dead and destroying homes and businesses across multiple counties.

Kerr County first tried to secure $1 million for a flood warning system in 2017, but could not. Could such a system have prevented loss of life on July 4?