Kerrville Officials Address Flood Notifications and National Weather Service Warnings

Flood Event and Initial Response

• ⚠️ Officials in Kerrville are addressing questions about whether enough was done to warn residents ahead of deadly Central Texas floods.
• 🎯 The city manager explained the challenges faced, noting that the National Weather Service map showed Kerr County in the northeast corner of a large affected area.
• 🌧️ The rain hit at an "inopportune time" and in "inopportune areas," exacerbating the impact.

National Weather Service Timeline and Alerts

• 🗓️ Days before the flood, the National Weather Service issued forecasts mentioning the potential for flooding.
• ⚠️ On Thursday, a flood watch was issued for Friday, predicting up to 7 inches of rain and the possibility of rivers flooding, including in Kerr County.
• ⚡ A special discussion was issued Thursday evening, highlighting "concerning trends," "flash flooding likely," and rainfall rates exceeding three inches per hour.
• 📱 On Friday morning, a flash flood warning was issued for Kerr County, with "considerable" wording that typically triggers wireless emergency alerts on cell phones.

Escalation of Warnings and Flood Impact

• 🚨 At 2:28 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service noted that 5 inches of rain had already fallen and flash flooding had begun.
• 🆘 By 3:02 a.m., a dangerous flood event was unfolding in South Central Texas.
• 🚨 A flash flood emergency, a rare alert indicating a significant threat to life and property, was issued at 4:03 a.m.
• 🌊 At 4:10 a.m., the Guadalupe River at Hunt reached major flood stage, cresting at 29.45 feet, significantly higher than its usual major flood stage of 22 feet.
• 📈 This crest was the second-highest recorded water level in that area's history, with only one other time seeing higher water.