Texas Flood: Trump Accuses Biden Administration of Negligence
In the aftermath of the devastating flood disaster in Texas that has claimed 78 lives so far, U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by blaming the Biden administration for the lack of warnings during the catastrophe. Trump characterized the flooding event as a "hundred-year catastrophe" that was set up by the Biden administration's policies rather than his own administration's actions.
When asked about federal cuts to agencies like the National Weather Service (NWS) that critics say contributed to the disaster, Trump deflected the question and denied plans to investigate whether staff cuts had affected key positions, instead attributing the situation to the circumstances under Biden rather than federal budget decisions under his own administration.
The flood disaster exposed shortcomings in the weather alert system, which officials described as "neglected" and "ancient." Despite modernization efforts initiated under Trump's presidency, the system's limitations were highlighted by the unpredictable stalling of the storm that led to unprecedented rainfall and flooding reminiscent of Hurricane Harvey. These limitations potentially reduced the effectiveness and clarity of warnings for the public.
The flooding on the U.S. national holiday was triggered by heavy rainfall of up to 300 litres per square meter - a third of the average annual rainfall in Kerr County. The Guadalupe River's water level rose eight meters in just 45 minutes on Friday. Hundreds of rescue workers are on the scene in Texas, with around 17 helicopters involved in the search for survivors.
Tragically, ten missing girls and a counselor are from the Christian summer camp "Camp Mystic." So far, 41 people are still missing in Texas. The county of Kerr has reported 68 fatalities, including 28 children. The children at the camp were forced to swim for ten or 15 minutes in the dark and rushing water during the flood. Remarkably, they eventually reached dry land after swimming.
Texas' Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick described a camp counselor breaking a cabin window to allow girls in pajamas to escape and swim for their lives. The floods are not uncommon in the center and south of Texas, known as "Flash Flood Alley."
As the cleanup efforts continue and the search for survivors continues, the political dispute over responsibility for disaster preparedness and the state of federal weather monitoring and emergency response systems remains a contentious issue.
I'm not going to be a big fan of the idea of a "Texas" politics that disregards the importance of a functioning National Weather Service, given the consequences of the recent flood disaster in Texas. The controversy surrounding the lack of warnings during the catastrophe, coupled with the neglect and age of the weather alert system, raises serious questions about the general-news, crime-and-justice, and governance aspects in this situation.
