If you think @steross is celebrating the tragedy then you are a blind fool.
US continues to go backward...
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My kids, and therefore my grandkids, are Cherokee.
JTOSU
Ranger
The tweets were celebrating the tragedy (example below from a Houston doctor). He was justifying the rationale to blame a weather event into politics. The flooding and the resulting deaths had nothing to do with politics. And the US is going backwards when people leverage tragedy to attempt to gain political points.
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Polds4OSU
Marshall
Kerr County asked Texas State Govt to help pay for a flood warning system for 8 years now and each time the state has refused
Texas GOP has spent over a $11 billion on so-called border security and has almost $28 billion in its rainy day fund, yet couldn’t find a $1 million to fund Kerr County’s flood warning system, something that would have actually saved lives.
www.threads.com
Texas GOP has spent over a $11 billion on so-called border security and has almost $28 billion in its rainy day fund, yet couldn’t find a $1 million to fund Kerr County’s flood warning system, something that would have actually saved lives.
David Leftwich (@davidleftwich68) on Threads
Texas GOP has spent over a $11 billion on so-called border security and has almost $28 billion in its rainy day fund, yet couldn’t find a $1 million to fund Kerr County’s flood warning system, something that would have actually saved lives.
www.threads.com
Polds4OSU
Marshall
Whatever, the flood warning system cost less than $1 million...for 8 CONSECUTIVE YEARS the Texas Leg has rejected paying for this Flood system..and Dems haven't had state wide control in the state for 50 + years
However
Texas is constructing a border wall, funded by the state, with construction ongoing since December 2021. While the state has completed 65 miles of the wall, the project has faced funding challenges and is now paused due to a lack of allocated funds. Originally projected to cost over $20 billion and take 30 years, the project's future is uncertain with the current funding shortfall and construction has been paused after $3 BILLION was spent
Honest question: Do you think this could have been prevented if FEMA hadn't been defunded? Or if people took climate change seriously? Or if there were better systems in place that the GOP leadership fought against?
I'm not agreeing with the posts, I think they are abhorrent. But I also understand that people are pissed off because of trumps politicization of absolutely everything. There are a lot of things that him and Musk have done that will kill thousands upon thousands of people.
I can understand why somebody is upset without condoning it.
Polds4OSU
Marshall
Texas county where campers died was denied money to boost warning systems
In June 2016, President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in Texas after torrential rains killed 20 people and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in the state’s southeast corner. It unlocked more than $100 million in money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to both clean up the damage and help communities across the state prepare for the next disaster.Kerr County, part of a region whose rivers’ and creeks’ high flooding potential earned it the nickname “Flash Flood Alley,” was among the communities that sought preventative funding. It asked for $1 million to build a flood warning system that would have upgraded 20 water gauge systems, added new water level sensors and posts, and created software and a website to distribute that information to the public in real-time.
Although some nearby jurisdictions, such as Cornal County, built siren systems to alert residents to floods, Moser noted that many people in Kerr County opposed sirens. A website, he hoped, would fill that void.
“We can do all the water level monitoring we want, but if we don’t get that information to the public in a timely way, then this whole thing is not worth it,” he said at a January 2017 meeting, days before the application deadline.
Under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance program, the federal government can distribute money for preventive measures to states that request it. Cities, counties and nonprofits then apply to their states for a piece of it. In Texas, the Division of Emergency Management decides which applications to approve.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management denied Kerr County’s 2017 application, meeting minutes show. Kerr County applied again in 2018, when more federal funding became available after Hurricane Harvey. But meeting minutes indicate that Texas’ emergency authority again did not approve it.
Kerr County has long used software called CodeRed to notify residents about floods, fires and other emergencies via cell phone. In 2020, county leaders voted to expand CodeRed by integrating it with a FEMA system, which would enable it to alert people passing through the area, even if they don’t have the local CodeRed app.
The expansion, however, was just an expansion of the old system – not the new system with upgraded gauges, new sensors and a public website that the county desperately wanted.
“We’ve been trying to get a new Flood Warning System here,” Thomas, the county's emergency management coordinator, said at the November 2020 meeting.
“We just haven’t been able to do it.”
Polds4OSU
Marshall
NO this wouldn't have been prevented regardless of what Trump did with FEMA funding.......because FEMA had already offered to pay for the upgrade and the state of Texas Rejected it.
Obama PROVIDED funding for the warning upgrade for them the LAST time this happened in 2016 via FEMA. Obama gave Texas $100 MILLION to clean up from the Floods then AND PREPARE FOR FUTURE FLOODS including WARNING SYSTEM UPGRADES
in 2016 when Obama released this money via FEMA .......KERR COUNTRY (where this took place) asked for $1 million to build a flood warning system that would have upgraded 20 water gauge systems, added new water level sensors and posts, and created software and a website to distribute that information to the public in real-time.
The state of Texas DENIED their request to use the FEMA money for that.
JTOSU
Ranger
Have you seen any evidence that FEMA funding had anything to do with this? I have read anything about that.
And the river has flooded numerous times int the past, so no I don’t think people taking climate change more seriously is the issue.
As for early warning detection…perhaps, but even locals are saying that wasn’t the issue. It is proper and reasonable to do a post-Morten on the tragedy and look for ways to insure this does not occur again (my guess is they do install an early warning detection.)
But even if all three of the above were true… it is still revolting that deranged people tweets “it’s not awful, it’s what Texas deserves”, or “cry harder. Texas deserves it”; or “I’m kinda happy the National Weather Service gave incorrect predictions. Texas deserves the flooding”
I understand you have a visceral hate for Trump and I assume the people tweeting do as well. But just because Trump makes people pissed off by being bad, does not any shape or way justify cruelty and being disgusting. How is celebrating deaths of 80 innocent Texans for something that is an act of God a way to show anger towards Trump?
Polds4OSU
Marshall
FEMA offered to pay for warning system upgrades for the whole area in 2016 when Obama released $100 million to do that in 2016 to pay for the last major Flood clean up and to update warning systems for the whole region.
Kerr County where this act of God took place asked the Tex Legislature to allow them $1 Million from that FEMA money to upgrade 20 stations and add real time monitoring and warning systems. The Texas leg Rejected their Request.
Polds4OSU
Marshall
some Austin Fire Department personnel who were contacted by the state on July 2, but those personnel turned down the request to deploy due to a previous “standing order” from leadership, sent through email. KXAN reviewed the email, which was dated June 6 and sent from an AFD Division Chief of Homeland Security and Special Operations. The email said the department was suspending deployments through October 1.
It stated, “The City is facing a budget crisis, and there is currently something like $800,000 in outstanding reimbursements owed to AFD by the State of Texas.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Chief insists his department is doing everything it can to respond to deadly flooding in Kerr County after firefighters accused him of actions that delayed deployment of specialized search and rescue crews.
Chief Joel G. Baker responded to the accusations made in a social media post by the Austin Firefighters Association, which claimed that highly trained first responders from Austin were not allowed to respond. The post called the chief’s actions an “egregious dereliction of duty,” and the association announced it would meet on Tuesday to discuss whether to take a vote of “no confidence” in Baker.
The association’s president, Bob Nicks, claimed the state requested assistance from the Austin Fire Department (AFD) special operations teams more than a day before floodwaters rushed from the Guadalupe River early July 4.
In an interview Monday night, Chief Baker refuted the claims, saying he was first made aware of requests from the state on July 4 and AFD deployed three rescue swimmers to the disaster area.
Nicks maintains that earlier deployment could have saved lives.
Kerr County officials had confirmed 84 deaths Monday evening, as search and rescue efforts continued for those who were still missing.
Nicks said AFD’s teams are specially trained for Hill Country swift water rescues, and they routinely deploy at the state’s request, as a part of a large mutual aid network during disasters. However, a recent order from AFD leadership to temporarily stop deployments prevented some crews from responding.
“We were the best rescue team in the best position to help those little girls,” said Nicks, referencing campers and counselors at Camp Mystic in Kerr County. “Before the moratorium, this was a routine request, and we would have deployed.”
“It’s important that we are able to function and maintain a certain level of readiness in the city of Austin. Now, to keep in mind — again — I was not sure how much of the weather would impact my city — the city of Austin. I need to make sure that I have an adequate amount of resources within the city so I can respond for my mutual aid calls and my automatic aid calls around the city of Austin,” Chief Baker said.
He went on to say that local crews should not “self-dispatch” during disasters but rather work within the guidelines laid out by the state through Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).
KXAN has asked the Texas Division of Emergency Management for clarity about what the state requested of AFD — and when. We will update this article when we get a response.
Baker added that the department sent eight members and a boat team to aid Travis County Emergency Services District 1 on July 5 and 6, as flooding hit parts of that county and recovery efforts expanded in Central Texas.
“We are going to continue to support disasters of this nature. That’s going on right now until we are no longer needed. It’s a long process. We will continue to send people. We will continue to rotate crews. But I’m telling you, I’m obligated to make sure that the residents, the citizens of Austin, is also protected,” the chief said.
When KXAN investigators asked whether Baker felt AFD had done everything it could to respond in Central Texas, Baker said, “Absolutely.”
It stated, “The City is facing a budget crisis, and there is currently something like $800,000 in outstanding reimbursements owed to AFD by the State of Texas. The City wants to make sure this money is reimbursed before the end of the fiscal year, and does not want to be in a situation where additional money is expended on deployments and is not recouped before the end of the fiscal year.”
When KXAN asked Baker about the email, he said he gave the order for a temporary halt on deployments while the department worked through “internal issues” related to state reimbursements for deployment requests. He said the issue was not the fault of AFD’s partners at the state, who he said has “done an outstanding job in assisting us in receiving those funds in a timely [manner].” He noted that the state does not currently owe AFD any reimbursements, to his knowledge.
Regarding the email, Baker explained, “I said, ‘We have to do a better job in our reimbursement.’ So, to change the behaviors of our members. I said, ‘No more deployment until we start again reimbursing the entire amount.’ Now think about it, once I made that comment, it’s amazing how quickly we start back getting reimbursed. So that let me know that it’s not on the state of Texas. There was some internal, possible internal effort on our part. Nothing negative at all against those firefighters who go on deployment.”
And Baker insisted that budget challenges had “nothing” to do with his decisions
“I’m not saying it’s the fault of the firefighter from Austin. I’m not saying it’s the fault of the state. We had to work on our own internal issues, on how we get reimbursed. It was a collaborative effort between the state and Austin Fire Department and we have resolved those matters… I’m telling you and the viewers, it has nothing to do with budget challenges and issues.”
Baker said he believes the email caused confusion and acknowledged this was a learning experience for future communications between himself and other department leaders.
“Because words matter. What the memo should have said, or what the email should have said is, ‘Based on a case-by-case basis,’” he said. “So, when an emergency like this takes place, or something like this larger disaster takes place, then it’s not, ‘We’re not going to send anyone.’ We’re going to send them but let us evaluate what we’re sending.”
Nicks, however, said Baker’s explanation seemed disingenuous and claimed it took external pressure for crews to finally be able to deploy.
“The notion that a department of our size can’t send a few boat crews is ludicrous,” Nicks said, insisting the department had enough resources locally to send more to Kerrville, as they have in other disasters.
“We made a promise to go, and we said ‘No,’” Nicks said.
The association plans to hold a meeting and press conference regarding any vote of no confidence at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. KXAN will update this article with any details.
It stated, “The City is facing a budget crisis, and there is currently something like $800,000 in outstanding reimbursements owed to AFD by the State of Texas.
Austin Fire Chief defends response after accusations of delaying help for Kerr County flooding
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Chief insists his department is doing everything it can to respond to deadly flooding in Kerr County after firefighters accused him of actions that delayed deployment of specialized search and rescue crews.
Chief Joel G. Baker responded to the accusations made in a social media post by the Austin Firefighters Association, which claimed that highly trained first responders from Austin were not allowed to respond. The post called the chief’s actions an “egregious dereliction of duty,” and the association announced it would meet on Tuesday to discuss whether to take a vote of “no confidence” in Baker.
The association’s president, Bob Nicks, claimed the state requested assistance from the Austin Fire Department (AFD) special operations teams more than a day before floodwaters rushed from the Guadalupe River early July 4.
In an interview Monday night, Chief Baker refuted the claims, saying he was first made aware of requests from the state on July 4 and AFD deployed three rescue swimmers to the disaster area.
Nicks maintains that earlier deployment could have saved lives.
Kerr County officials had confirmed 84 deaths Monday evening, as search and rescue efforts continued for those who were still missing.
Nicks said AFD’s teams are specially trained for Hill Country swift water rescues, and they routinely deploy at the state’s request, as a part of a large mutual aid network during disasters. However, a recent order from AFD leadership to temporarily stop deployments prevented some crews from responding.
“We were the best rescue team in the best position to help those little girls,” said Nicks, referencing campers and counselors at Camp Mystic in Kerr County. “Before the moratorium, this was a routine request, and we would have deployed.”
AFD’s response
Chief Baker told KXAN he was made aware on July 4 of three requests for deployment: One for an assistant chief who chose not to go. One for a dispatcher, which was denied. And one for rescue swimmers, who were deployed. The chief explained his reasoning.“It’s important that we are able to function and maintain a certain level of readiness in the city of Austin. Now, to keep in mind — again — I was not sure how much of the weather would impact my city — the city of Austin. I need to make sure that I have an adequate amount of resources within the city so I can respond for my mutual aid calls and my automatic aid calls around the city of Austin,” Chief Baker said.
He went on to say that local crews should not “self-dispatch” during disasters but rather work within the guidelines laid out by the state through Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).
KXAN has asked the Texas Division of Emergency Management for clarity about what the state requested of AFD — and when. We will update this article when we get a response.
Baker added that the department sent eight members and a boat team to aid Travis County Emergency Services District 1 on July 5 and 6, as flooding hit parts of that county and recovery efforts expanded in Central Texas.
“We are going to continue to support disasters of this nature. That’s going on right now until we are no longer needed. It’s a long process. We will continue to send people. We will continue to rotate crews. But I’m telling you, I’m obligated to make sure that the residents, the citizens of Austin, is also protected,” the chief said.
When KXAN investigators asked whether Baker felt AFD had done everything it could to respond in Central Texas, Baker said, “Absolutely.”
Previous “standing order”
Nicks, meanwhile, told KXAN he is aware of some AFD personnel who were contacted by the state on July 2, but those personnel turned down the request to deploy due to a previous “standing order” from leadership, sent through email. KXAN reviewed the email, which was dated June 6 and sent from an AFD Division Chief of Homeland Security and Special Operations. The email said the department was suspending deployments through October 1.It stated, “The City is facing a budget crisis, and there is currently something like $800,000 in outstanding reimbursements owed to AFD by the State of Texas. The City wants to make sure this money is reimbursed before the end of the fiscal year, and does not want to be in a situation where additional money is expended on deployments and is not recouped before the end of the fiscal year.”
When KXAN asked Baker about the email, he said he gave the order for a temporary halt on deployments while the department worked through “internal issues” related to state reimbursements for deployment requests. He said the issue was not the fault of AFD’s partners at the state, who he said has “done an outstanding job in assisting us in receiving those funds in a timely [manner].” He noted that the state does not currently owe AFD any reimbursements, to his knowledge.
Regarding the email, Baker explained, “I said, ‘We have to do a better job in our reimbursement.’ So, to change the behaviors of our members. I said, ‘No more deployment until we start again reimbursing the entire amount.’ Now think about it, once I made that comment, it’s amazing how quickly we start back getting reimbursed. So that let me know that it’s not on the state of Texas. There was some internal, possible internal effort on our part. Nothing negative at all against those firefighters who go on deployment.”
And Baker insisted that budget challenges had “nothing” to do with his decisions
“I’m not saying it’s the fault of the firefighter from Austin. I’m not saying it’s the fault of the state. We had to work on our own internal issues, on how we get reimbursed. It was a collaborative effort between the state and Austin Fire Department and we have resolved those matters… I’m telling you and the viewers, it has nothing to do with budget challenges and issues.”
Baker said he believes the email caused confusion and acknowledged this was a learning experience for future communications between himself and other department leaders.
“Because words matter. What the memo should have said, or what the email should have said is, ‘Based on a case-by-case basis,’” he said. “So, when an emergency like this takes place, or something like this larger disaster takes place, then it’s not, ‘We’re not going to send anyone.’ We’re going to send them but let us evaluate what we’re sending.”
Nicks, however, said Baker’s explanation seemed disingenuous and claimed it took external pressure for crews to finally be able to deploy.
“The notion that a department of our size can’t send a few boat crews is ludicrous,” Nicks said, insisting the department had enough resources locally to send more to Kerrville, as they have in other disasters.
“We made a promise to go, and we said ‘No,’” Nicks said.
The association plans to hold a meeting and press conference regarding any vote of no confidence at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. KXAN will update this article with any details.
PF5
Sheriff
it is disgusting that people say/tweet/post these things...unfortunately it is the society we live in (even republicans post $h!tty things)...empathy is a dying thing in this country...BTW, our fearless ¨leader¨ is the King of hate filled/cruel/disgusting posts/comments...
Polds4OSU
Marshall
ohh and for those who don't understand the significance of the Austin Fire Department NOT being able to deploy High water Rescue teams due to a city Budget crises when the State owed them $800,000 for their Emergency Response Teams the state of Texas has Not yet Reimbursed them for..
and bitching about this being used as a Political Stunt to score political points.
Texas Governor Blocks Funding for Austin Because It’s a Sanctuary City
link
Texas Governor Blocks Funding for Austin Because It’s a Sanctuary City
The county sheriff has refused to comply with federal immigration orders
Polds4OSU
Marshall
Texas pediatrician ‘no longer employed’ after post about pro-Trump flood victims
A pediatrician for a chain of clinics affiliated with a prominent Houston hospital system is “no longer employed” there, according to officials, after a social media account associated with her published a post wishing voters in a Donald Trump-supporting county of Texas “get what they voted for” amid flash flooding that killed more than 100 people, including many children.
“We were made aware of a social media comment from one of our physicians,” read a statement from Blue Fish Pediatrics circulated late Sunday. “The individual is no longer employed by Blue Fish Pediatrics.”
The statement also said: “We strongly condemn the comments that were made in that post. That post does not reflect the values, standards or mission of Blue Fish Pediatrics. We do not support or condone any statement that politicizes tragedy, diminishes human dignity, or fails to clearly uphold compassion for every child and family, regardless of background or beliefs.”
Blue Fish Pediatrics’ statement neither named the physician in question nor specified whether she had resigned or was dismissed. But multiple publicly accessible social media posts identified her as Dr Christina Propst. A Guardian source familiar with the situation confirmed the accuracy of the posts naming Propst. And, at the time it issued the statement, Blue Fish Pediatrics had recently unpublished Propst’s biographical page from its website.
Deflection and side-stepping. What I said was specific about YOU and @steross
Stillwater Townie
Ranger
In that case, maybe it had more to do with Obama being behind it, rather tha climate change, often cited as a reason why many Red States, such as Texas refused to take advantage of extended Medicaid.
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