| coal... | Quite frankly, we are still responsible for our own actions, and if we choose to live or be in a hurricane, flood prone, high desert heat zone is our own choice, and we must accept some personal risk. Yes, it is awesome we have advanced weather forecasting ability and advisories, and they should be employed by forecasters, but no system is foolproof and no amount of money can prevent totally disasters such as what occurred. Expecting “government” to be a panacea is not a substitute for individual accountability to some degree. |
| delu... | The federal government should be held at fault |
| csbr... | They’ve been trying to update the warning system since 2017 and the Tx GOO continued to deny funding. Seems that right wing conservatives only love children until they are born. |
| tofe... | Up to local govt to ensure adequate measures are taken. |
| bnbe... | The people that camped there near a dry river bed should shoulder the responsibility. Due to the fact that the government cannot monitor a flash flood prediction at night. Just let that sink in for a minute. The people need to think before they camp and be aware of what's coming, have a brain. Not always rely on the government to bail you out. |
| kaki... | The Federal government has cut funding for forecasting, weather balloons, an NOAA. Trump's cuts play a large part in this disaster |
| that... | They should be ashamed of all the cuts they made to weather scientist positions and NOAA resources in that office (and across America). |
| lynn... | Shared responsibility but the local government should be more transparent with citizens |
| tadd... | Duh. If not, what are they there for? |
| elin... | The responsibility rests mostly with lack of NOAA funding due to cuts by DOGE. There are not enough people to monitor the weather changes 24 hours a day and not enough balloons are being launched to monitor weather patterns due to funding cuts. But also there is some local county-based responsibility to provide enough staff to monitor weather and NOAA emergency notifications and issue emergency weather notifications immediately upon notification from NOAA. |
| lkdn... | There will probably be many law suits. Courts will decide if governments are responsible. Expand the question: should the government stop weather forecasting, hurricane warnings, forest fire warnings etc? |
| tami... | Climate change is not going to disappear just because we don’t to deal with it. Finds must be implemented for disaster prevention. |
| atli... | Yes, local governments need to put the welfare of residents first. And given the near impossible task of local governments to provide the funds necessary to do so, the Federal government is equally to blame for its continued lack of attention the welfare needs of the entire community of US citizens. |
| jon.... | State and local governments can do better, but as anyone who has lived in Texas knows, its weather is unpredictable. People who live in these historically flood prone areas have an obligation to stay on top of weather developments. The area has a long history of flooding due to the unique geology and residents have an obligation monitor weather conditions in the months of May-August when these events. The breakup of Beryl was one clear predictor of potential heavy rains in the areas from San Antonio north Kerr and Austin. |
| clyd... | Flood warnings were issued 12 hours prior to the flooding. Get your facts from someplace other than the fake news. Be responsible and check your sources or what value do you deliver! |
| jjpl... | It depends on where they get the data that feeds the early warning systems. If local government depends on data from a gutted and crippled National Weather Service, depleted by "DOGE" and Trump; they cannot provide adequate advance warning. This is why NOAA is a vital protection agency. Its funding must be fully restored. |
| chri... | All reasonable measures should be provided by federal, state and local. Ultimately people are responsible for their own safety. Keep lawyers out of t! |
| ttim... | Less taxpayer involvement is better. |
| brod... | Weather doesn’t acknowledge the boundaries of local jurisdictions. The business of weather forecasting needs to be a federal responsibility. |
| knca... | When a situation is deemed potentially hazardous, the government has the responsibility to set safe guards to protect the citizens. Flooding is not new to this area warning alerts should be in place. |
| rmtr... | Trump cut national weather service alerts, this is what happens when you have an czar and a bunch of pussies for Republican congressman cow-tailing at the government trough. Shame on them. |
| blik... | Weather Forecaster offices were fully staffed. You cannot spend your way into 100% safety and protection against the natural forces of the earth!!!! If our coasts suffer a tsunami, will you blame a “lack of taxpayer funding”? San Andreas Fault quakes? Floods in Wheeling? Mt St Helens? |
| kerr... | There are too many ways to detect a catastrophic event such as this nowadays. Especially when there is a long history of catastrophic flooding. |
| efbe... | They should be held accountable—especially to a state in which Big Oil pays out so much graft and the treasury coffers are full. But, the triumvirate of corruption, Abbott, Paxton and Patrick don’t really care about the needs of their constituents. They didn’t care about Sante Fe; they didn’t care about Uvalde; and they Don’t really care about anyone except themselves and their power grip on Texas. |
| laur... | There is no option here to include federal and state government in the collection of responsible entities. |
| tdfr... | I’m disappointed in your reporting that it was lack of infrastructure and failed warning systems. The warning system is in place. If people live in a flood prone area, Hurricane area, tornado area , etc… they should have a weather radio. There was warning but no one can predict a catastrophic event no matter how much money you invest. |
| jmil... | Feds cut the staff |
| jc44... | The local authorities have no funds because Trump cut them |
| creo... | I can’t believe that I am going to take my time and reply but show me when government has been held accountable? |
| lind... | Floods kill more people than migrants do. |
| trag... | What is the role of government other than enacting laws and directives to protect their constituents? This includes physical safety along with other protections. If there is a serious problem, it should be addressed. In this case, the dangers of the river and its proximity to campers was well known but poorly addressed resulting in a horrendous tragedy |
| robs... | This 100 year flood became out of control by rising 26 feet during a small 45 min window, and the readers here want to blame the local government? Why is our country so intent on blaming someone for every single problem? The best way to avoid making your readers look stupid is to discontinue asking them stupid questions. |
| btaw... | Not just local. Should leverage Federal and State resources. |
| becc... | This is twice now that places having had a warning system and it caused mass danger. Hawaii and now Florida. Let's take away from the Big Beautiful Bill and give to safety against dangers we can see, versus our assumptions of people. |
| jote... | The bigger issue is why people are allowed to live in a "flood plain" that has repeatedly flooded catastrophically. |
| nari... | Blame the Trump administration, their incompetence is mind boggling. |
| dabe... | Don’t give all the blame to local Texas government. Let’s not forget about doge and the gutting of noaa as well as federal funding cuts to our national weather services. |
| tipf... | Frump and DOGE are responsible for the lack of warning |
| john... | Trump/DOGE staff cuts at NWS hindered the forecast and notification. Local warning communications were too slow and ineffective. Local voters voted down stream flow monitors. Lots of blame to go around as usual. |
| rtet... | Stop splitting hairs. Texas does not protect it's citizens. DOGE cut the National Weather Service. Even the MSM is reporting that this affected the federal government's response. Someone needs to remind the GOP that the federal government serves all Americans even when their state GOP fails them. |
| kppn... | Early warning systems that are prone to dangerous naturally occurring events, like floods and tornadoes, should test those systems on a very regular basis. |
| kim3... | What is government for if not to protect its constituents ? |
| fcse... | Where I live near Chicago we also have constant updates on TV weather reports for heavy rain, snow, tornadoes. |
| bhad... | The Federal government and DOGE has cut much of the staff for these predictions, which are predictions because it hard to actually know what is going to happen. Another question might be Why in Gods name would anyone allow a Childrens camp to be in a place known as FLASH FLOOD ALLEY? |
| ghgc... | Our government is corrupt and inept. They don’t care about us. |
| dsbl... | In flash flood alley? No way to predict. |
| susa... | No doubt about it. Local government is responsible. They have the ability to raise the necessary funds and complete the necessary updates |
| sk38... | Early warning systems exist worldwide to notify populations of possible/probable dangers. Its not rocket science nor major expense/investment to install warning systems. Lack of systems indicates stupidity and/or lack of awareness. |
| nanc... | From what I’ve read so far, the area knew they needed early warning systems, but the cost was too high. The layoffs at NOAA also contributed to lack of warnings. |
| susa... | Staff cuts to the NWS are most likely the reason people weren’t warned in enough time to get to higher ground. Blame the current administration for their cuts. |
| mars... | When the federal government eliminates positions which would have helped with early warnings and/or rescues, the federal government bears the responsibility. |
| cwoo... | Federal gov should do something about climate crisis |
| suzy... | Our great Government downsized FEMA and Ted Cruz is downplaying the fact that of there was a flood warning the camp more than likely would have been closed |
| twin... | State AND federal agencies need to protect the residents!!!! The scaling down of govt services is huge in creating this disaster!!! |
| cica... | The democracy is a government by, of and for the people. You got the government you vote for. And people are a policy. If you’re voting for people that are always promising to cut your taxes and get rid of “ waste fraud, and abuse”, you may be voting for people who are gutting emergency response systems |
| sara... | These fatalities were a direct result of the DOGE cuts to NWS staff, just like the tornados in Kentucky earlier this year. Ignoring DOGEs deadly impacts to public safety through staffing cuts to the federal government will continue to cost lives and property unless they are held accountable and stopped. |
| olga... | Federal DOGE fired essential weather forecast people so that he could cut some taxes for the rich and nevertheless increase the federal budget deficit. How many more people will have to die due to this dumb initiative? |
| aaro... | One of the few purposes of government is to protect people. Only the government has the funds to properly detect and warn about natural disasters. |
| 1hea... | This is precisely the type of issue the federal government needs to be responsible for leading. It is hard to imagine a more “common good” than weather monitoring. The National Weather Service is a utility for all (regardless of your political affiliation) and only the federal govt can and should fund it and operate it. |
| mast... | Yes the local government has a responsibility but so do residents. Be an engaged resident t. I heard earlier warnings were sent. Know where to get vetted info. And a camp like that should have management on alert for any potential threat 24/7. |
| kimc... | the governor is blaming the weather forecasters, but he needs to take responsibility |
| wher... | Weather emergencies are no longer unusual. No excuses |
| jmja... | Yes, local governments should be held accountable. However, it sounds like there was early warnings so there may have been "warning fatigue" by people. |
