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Monday, July 07, 2025

People Are Frustrated With MAGA Politicians' Responses To The Deadly Texas Floods

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Trump, who spent Sunday golfing, disputed the suggestions that his administration's cuts to key federal agencies may have hurt the response to the deluge.[image or embed]

" HuffPost (@huffpost.com) Jul 7, 2025 at 11:06 AM

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"Fred Wellman
@FPWellman

No. That's what pastors and civilians should be doing. We pay members of Congress to ask hard questions, start investigating, find out if the government could have done more. Do it now before the next storm.

We aren't paying you to pray. We are paying you to help all of us."

;;

Common mistake voters make; we are paying them, true, and they should be doing their jobs, not just talking about praying for victims and families.

But they get a lot more from Corporations/Billionaires = Oligarchs, who fund their campaigns, give them stock advise, luxury trips, condos, Golden Parachute positions when they retire.

So, they really werk for the Oligarchs, not the People... which is bigly problematic when it comes to where politicians put in their best efforts.

I guarONtee you (best Justin Wilson voice) that many of them are more concerned about their next fundraiser than they are about what happens to, 'the little people'.

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2025-07-07 07:13 PM | Reply

Eberly says they'll get over it. Unless this becomes a weekly occurrence I think they will get over it.

It will take a failure bigger than Katrina to get people to notice.

#2 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-07 07:37 PM | Reply

... People Are Frustrated With MAGA Politicians' Responses To The Deadly Texas Floods ...

Yeah, I agree, the constituents are not paying their elected officials to pray. But that is what they voted for.

So, what's the real problem here?

They got the officials they voted for.

So, are those officials the real problem, or is who the voters put into office the real problem?

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-07 08:08 PM | Reply

Thoughts and prayers don't cut it when your daughter has been swept away by a flash flood. Not even a little.

#4 | Posted by moder8 at 2025-07-07 08:13 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Is stinky going to wave an upside down bible again when he finally visits the site of his latest handiwork?

#5 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-07-07 08:16 PM | Reply

To be fair, stinky was golfing in NJ at the Club and couldn't be bothered.

Much like when he passed on recognizing the assignation of Congress members of the other party. They aren't real people to him.

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2025-07-07 08:21 PM | Reply

Krasnov Fats racks up triple digits.

apnews.com

#7 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-07-07 08:21 PM | Reply

He'll go on Friday? Is he waiting for the truckload of paper towels to get there first?

#8 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2025-07-07 08:23 PM | Reply

I lived in Austin for a few years and spent time near these flood prone areas. I think there's prolly locals there who are saying, "I told you so", about the dangers of some of the campsites.

Obligatory:

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood (Live at the El Mocambo)

www.youtube.com

saw him in the early 80's in a small venue bar in downtown Austin... amazing talent, musician and showman.

#9 | Posted by Corky at 2025-07-07 08:30 PM | Reply

Didja know he did the lead on Bowie's "Let's Dance" and was going on tour with him, but it was just too much coke. I've got a copy of one of the rehearsals somewhere.

#10 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-07-07 09:16 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

@#4 ... Thoughts and prayers don't cut it when your daughter has been swept away by a flash flood. Not even a little. ...

Worth a repeat in bold


Thoughts and prayers don't cut it when your daughter has been swept away by a flash flood. Not even a little.

#11 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-07 09:36 PM | Reply

@#8 ... He'll go on Friday? Is he waiting for the truckload of paper towels to get there first? ...

A Presidential visit is extremely disruptive to local emergency efforts.

So, imo, the longer he waits to schedule his visit, the better.

More important to me are the policies that Pres Trump puts into place to learn from this disaster and help to prevent it from occurring again.


#12 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-07 09:40 PM | Reply

The loss of life on Texas is horrifying, shocking.

Maybe it didn't need to happen.

Good thing no one said "if you gut NWS indiscriminately, without caution and study, then there will be actual people, maybe lots of people, who will die."

Right?

Meanwhile, Trump spent $45 million on an ego parade that was a joke, millions spent every time he jets to Mar-a-Dumbo to golf, he has his own crypto- and cellphone- and Middle east-scams going to fgrift, because after all, what good is being POTUS if you can't profit off of it, amirite? and the rest of the clown car of completely-unqualified-and-incompetent reality show posers in his Cabinet are just one disaster away of their own making.

"He's doing EXACTLY what we voted for!" so many MAGA reflex-vomit on social media this year..
My response: "oh, really?"

#13 | Posted by e1g1 at 2025-07-07 09:42 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1


Good thing no one said "if you gut NWS indiscriminately, without caution and study, then there will be actual people, maybe lots of people, who will die."

They didn't gut forecasters .... thanks for playing.

Weather service had extra staffers
The National Weather Service office in New Braunfels, which delivers forecasts for Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding areas, had extra staff on duty during the storms, Runyen said.
Where the office would typically have two forecasters on duty during clear weather, they had up to five on staff.
"There were extra people in here that night, and that's typical in every weather service office " you staff up for an event and bring people in on overtime and hold people over," Runyen said.
apnews.com

#14 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-07-07 10:17 PM | Reply

Fuck off cunt.

#15 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-07-07 10:19 PM | Reply

Why didn't anyone get warnings until 7 am on July 4? Over a hundred people are DEAD because of Fat Donnie Idiot, and here you are, Jeff, you fucking coward, licking his taint.

#16 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-07-07 10:20 PM | Reply

"Thoughts and prayers don't cut it when your daughter has been swept away by a flash flood. Not even a little."

Considering most of the victims were attending a Christian summer camp. I think prayers mean a whole lot to those families right now, and they are clinging to their faith to pull them through this horrific event.

I am not Christian, and personally do not believe in the "power of prayer" , but this is about them, not me.

#17 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-07-07 10:26 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Most of the victims?????
Are you high?
God you're a fucking idiot.

#18 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-07-07 10:37 PM | Reply

Plus WHAT THE FUCK is wrong with you fucking MAGAT heartless cunts? Fat Donnie Dementia destroyed all the things we had in place to earn people about this shit, and you fucking MAGAT scum cheered. You're as much of a fucking fraud as he is, you lying cow.

#19 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-07-07 10:39 PM | Reply

Warn.

Fuck you "Miranda". Fuck You.

#20 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-07-07 10:40 PM | Reply

I would love to see LGH say that crap to Miranda's face. She'd kick the shit out of him.

#21 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-07-07 10:42 PM | Reply

Fuck off you pussy ass coward.

#22 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-07-07 10:43 PM | Reply

You gutless cocksucking MAGAT pile of shit.

#23 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-07-07 10:44 PM | Reply

Christian girls summer camp devastated by floods holds decades-long history with presidents, Texas politicos (Mon, July 7, 2025 at 3:59 PM EDT)
www.yahoo.com

... More than two dozen children have died from the devastating flash floods gripping Texas' Hill Country, which is home to popular youth summer camps, including Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' summer program that holds deep roots with Texas politicians and presidential families stretching back decades.

Flash floods inundated Kerr County, Texas, and the surrounding area in central Texas' Hill Country early on the Fourth of July holiday. Warnings over the flooding were issued Thursday, but the devastation hit the area in the early morning hours of Friday, taking residents by surprise.

Kerr County, Texas, is home to a handful of youth summer camps, including Camp Mystic, a Christian girls summer camp established in 1926 by University of Texas football and basketball coach "Doc" Stewart.

At least 27 campers and counselors were confirmed dead, and the camp was devastated by the waters that flooded the Guadalupe River and tore through the surrounding communities, according to Camp Mystic's website.

"Today I visited Camp Mystic. It, and the river running beside it, were horrendously ravaged in ways unlike I've seen in any natural disaster," Abbott posted to X Saturday. "The height the rushing water reached to the top of cabins was shocking. We won't stop until we find every girl who was in those cabins."

Read On The Fox News App

The camp describes itself as one that focuses on promoting spiritual growth and bringing out the best in campers during their stays, according to its website.

"Camp Mystic is a private Christian summer camp for girls," the camp says on its website. "Established in 1926, Mystic is nestled among cypress, live oak, and pecan trees in the hill country of west-central Texas on the banks of the beautiful Guadalupe River. Mystic is located near the geographical center of Texas, 18 miles northwest of Kerrville. The staff at Mystic strives to provide young girls with a wholesome Christian atmosphere in which they can develop outstanding personal qualities and self-esteem." ...


#24 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-07 11:36 PM | Reply

OK, I guess my first question might be ...

It's a camp for children. One that may not have cell-phone service to receive weather alerts.

But, why did not that camp have a NOAA radio to receive alerts.

I have more questions, but I'll go with that one for now.

#25 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-07 11:39 PM | Reply

There are MANY other relevant factors that contributed to this an incident like this. Ignoring these in favor of a dominant focus on political arguments guarantees that no real action will be taken to address these factors and actually prevent future tragedies like this.

So since you asked ... ..

#26 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-07-08 01:19 AM | Reply

#26 | Posted by Miranda7

The State of Texas refused to fund a $1,000,000 grant for a siren warning system in Kerr County after county commissioners refused to fund it, saying they couldn't afford it.

All while the state government of Texas slashed property taxes by $54 BILLION.

That $1 million grant would have been 1/54000th of that amount.

What more needs to be said? Republicans love to give tax breaks and cut services to the people who pay them.

#27 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-07-08 01:28 AM | Reply

Disclaimer: I acknowledge that my views here speculative and anecdotal, but based on my experience living in flood zone and hurricane ravaged area, and taking part in mutual aid responses to natural disasters in other parts of the county. If you believe I am wrong, I am happy to review your source material and learn from it. If you just want to insult me an fight, don't waste your time, you are probably already on my plonk list.

1) The camp, and everyone within miles of the floodprone areas probably do have a NOAA radio, and cell phones with weather apps, etc. The problem is we don't listen to them, particularly when we are sleeping. Many of these devices have alerts that wake you, but we often turn those down or off. Because the way they are designed, the alerts go off pretty much constantly during thunderstorms. They don't do a good job filtering the difference between "patio furniture might blow over 100 miles away" from "Everyone on Oak Street, crawl into your bath tub right now". I know this because I am the paranoid one in my house that stays up for three days straight listening to all of them, looking at a paper map trying to figure out how close the tornados are because the internet is down.

2) The "Cry Wolf Factor" is huge. These folks are exposed to generations of being told "You are in serious peril with great risk of loss and life". This is WILDLY EXCARCEBATED by local and regional news media, as wells as the Weather Channel who feeds the frenzy with exaggerated alarmist rhetoric and even fake footage to keep people from changing the channel. Nearly all the time, the storm passes without incident, and at the celebratory BBQ the discussion is,"They always say that" "It never happens", "They always turn at the last minute" "The highest the water ever got was that tree down there". Does that ean the forecast was inaccurate? Absolutely not. The forecast SHOULD be worse than the actual outcome 90% of the time, because it is PRECAUTIONARY, and weather predictability has limits. But the stress of reacting to the constant "false alarms" wears on people and conditions complacency.

3) This camp, apparently in the same family ownership for 150 years, has generations of storytelling, they might have felt confident in the property history to have said, "We will be fine, the campsites have never flooded, or even "God is watching over us".

4) Circling back to #2, Local Media, both TV and Radio, is evaporating in favor of national syndication. I doubt that flash flood warnings in a sparsely populated area like Kerrville even attracted the attention of the weather channel. So even if the forecast is there, who is talking directly to the people about it? Hopefully local government officials are apprised, but how are they going to get word out to the people when local TV and radio stations are often not even staffed at night. Now many governments have emergency alert systems via texting apps, so to that, circle back to #1. People shut those of because they get tired of awakening for missing grandma and boiled water alerts.

That brings us back to the campground. Ultimately the people responsible for protecting those children is the adults in charge of the camp. With a location in a known flood area, and known flash flood watch in effect since lunchtime, at the very minimum, they needed an emergency evacuation plan and SOMEONE on wide awake all night listening to the NOAA radio for updates.

#28 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-07-08 02:01 AM | Reply

AU, What you describe is exactly the sort of solutions that are needed. It sounds like they already had an older text based system called "Code Red". Not clear what role Code Red played in this event, but here is more about their efforts to upgrade it. Lots of blame to go around, but it.

www.usatoday.com

#29 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-07-08 02:12 AM | Reply

the Weather Channel who feeds the frenzy with exaggerated alarmist rhetoric and even fake footage to keep people from changing the channel

Very true. They are the worst place to get weather information.

"We will be fine, the campsites have never flooded, or even "God is watching over us".

Also valid points.

at the very minimum, they needed an emergency evacuation plan and SOMEONE on wide awake all night listening to the NOAA radio for updates.

Absolutely.

#30 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-07-08 02:17 AM | Reply

Something else that jumped out at me (google Camp Mystic) is several dam like structures that appear to bound the waterway into swimming areas. One of these appears to be very new, in the proximity of the cabins the youngest children were in, which were also very close to the creek. The entire creek and about half the cabins are in Flood Zone A (below 100 year flood zone elevation)

I don't know much about Texas law, but I am very familiar with Florida laws for construction in flood zones, which are based on FEMA, DEP and Army Corps of Engineers guidelines. Generally all construction must have all finished floor areas at least one foot above the 100 year flood elevation, and you can't you can't build retaining walls or other structures which would impede the passage of flood waters through the area.

hazards-fema.maps.arcgis.com

www.google.comLake/@30.0039296,-99.3829429,6657m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x86594ffdfe444d8f:0x2a7a2695245457d6!8m2!3d30.0049622!
4d-99.3731957!16s%2Fg%2F11j34_l5fs?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYzMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

#31 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-07-08 02:47 AM | Reply

My links didn't work. Google maps 186 Felix Fisher Road, Hunt, TX ad the same for FEMA maps NFHL viewer.

#32 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-07-08 02:51 AM | Reply

My point here on the dam/retaining wall, is that it APPEARS (I'm no expert) that Cypress Creek (which wraps around the camp) is fed by runoff from surrounding hills and naturally flows west/north to join the South Fork of the Guadalupe River. The former creekbed is apparent from the cypress treeline (Cypresses grow on submerged lands and appear gray and gold compared to the green of upland trees) but the creeks thins to a trickle west/north of this dam. Presumable the dam was built to enclose a basin for water sports and maybe protect the downstream cabins from milder flooding, but it likely increased the risk.

The purpose of the laws is that when the natural flow of a waterway or floodway is artifically impeded, floodwaters that could pass through and get out of the area instead accumulate to greater depths, and then when the impeding structure is overtopped, increased turbulence and velocity make conditions far more dangerous.

Possibly the dam was engineered and fully approved, I'm sure that is something that will be closely examined.

#33 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-07-08 03:13 AM | Reply

#29 | Posted by Miranda7

Thanks for the reply and further info

#34 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-07-08 03:20 AM | Reply

Did a little more research, it appears the camp property is divided into two camps. The new dam I pointed out and the adjacent cabins are on the new camp to the south. The lost children were in the older part of the property to the north directly on the South Fork of the Guadalupe river which has an older dammed off swim area, so they were getting water from both waterways. The entire old/north camp where the children were housed lies within a regulatory floodway which essentially defines the riverbed, and I don't think you can build ANY structures in a floodway anymore, but the old camp may be grandfathered in.

#35 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-07-08 03:53 AM | Reply

So, solutions:
Build in flood zones only according to CURRENT regulations and at your own expense and risk.
Occupy non-compliant, grandfathered structures at your own risk.
Grandfathered existing, non-compliant structures should not be permitted to be used as commercial dwellings

Better delivery systems/apps for warnings with filters that allow you to screen alerts.
For example, in my area, I get Advisories, Watches, Warnings and Severe Warnings from up to 100 miles away, for fog, heavy rains, thunderstorms, tropical storms high winds, rip currents, dangerous lightning, wildfires, water spouts, tornados. All of which are repeated with an alert tone every few minutes. I have tied many different apps, most of which have a direct feed of NOAA data, but none that can effectively filter these by distance or severity.

Ideally, I would like one that can limit geographical difference, and send an alert tone only with new or changing alerts. For example, during a hurricane, I've been on alert for hours already and I'm hunkered down. I don't need to be awakened every five minutes with a piercing tone telling me there is a still a severe thunderstorm watch in effect, just let me know when there a tornado spotted within 10 miles so I can wake everybody up and get to the safest room in the house. I haven't yet found an app that can do that, but I don't sleep much anyway during a hurricane.

#36 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-07-08 04:27 AM | Reply

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