AUSTIN (KXAN) – Emails and text messages sent by the mayor of Kerrville the day before deadly July 4 flooding show few, if any, documented concerns among city leaders about potential severe weather.
Less than an hour after the National Weather Service issued a flood watch on July 3 for parts of the western Hill Country, including Kerrville, Mayor Joe Herring was tending to routine concerns — like which type of trees they should plant.
In a 1 p.m. email, Herring communicated with city officials about a planned golf course development in town. About two hours later, he sent off a nearly 500-word message about shade trees in town.
That morning, at 9:49 a.m. – 17 minutes after the Texas Division of Emergency Management emailed Herring briefing slides and a second reminder KXAN obtained about a 10 a.m. “Situational Awareness Call for Severe Weather Affecting the State of Texas” – Herring told Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice: “Big day tomorrow” at Louise Hays Park, where a Fourth of July event was set to take place.
“Yes it is!,” Rice replied. “And it seems we got some rain too!”
The emails and messages, which were obtained by KXAN’s sister station KXAS, underscore a positive, business-as-usual outlook among city leaders heading into the long Independence Day weekend.
But, amid the normal messages about municipal business, there were some warnings about what could be coming.
A day earlier, on July 2, TDEM first notified Herring of a call regarding the potential for severe weather and possible flooding that could affect the region. The TDEM call was scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday. The state agency again emailed Herring on July 3, less than 30 minutes before the meeting, with weather pattern slides. The briefing materials were also sent to Jerremy Hughes, who was the city’s emergency management coordinator.
“This information will focus on life safety or immediate jurisdictional support priorities only,” TDEM’s email read. “This briefing is designed to provide real-time, high-level information in a very short time period.”
Herring previously acknowledged he didn’t catch the messages and didn’t attend the TDEM call. KXAN reached out to Herring about these new emails and text messages. A response from the Joint Information Center’s Unified Public Information Team for the Kerr County Flood Event said they were not available to respond immediately.
‘Heartbroken by the tragedy’
Within 12 hours, the city of Kerrville and surrounding Hill Country region would see flooding, death and devastation beyond imagination.
Torrential storms parked over Kerr County and dropped over 15 inches of rain in a matter of hours. The Guadalupe River rose over 30 feet, wiping homes off their foundations and sweeping away sleeping residents, including young campers, in the early morning.
At least 108 people have been reported killed in the floods and two more are still missing, according to the latest reports.
The next text between Herring and Rice came at 6:37 a.m. July 4, shortly after flood waters hit their height.
“EOC [Emergency Operations Center] location?” Herring asked.
“PD,” replied Reice, referring to the police department.
At 10:43 a.m., the mayor asked for an update on Camp Mystic in Kerr County.
“None at this time trying to get access,” Rice said. “Everything is still Unconfirmed.”
Inbox fills up
As news of the devastation spread, Herring’s email inbox began to fill.
City officials across Texas reached out offering help, including mayors from Austin, Fredericksburg, Wichita Falls and more.
“I am heartbroken by the tragedy in your community and am offering services of any kind that would help,” wrote Tim Short, the mayor of Wichita Falls. “I understand we have fire fighters deploying to your area. You all are in our prayers.”
Local, national and international news agencies peppered Herring with requests for interviews and comments. Townspeople and well-wishers sent Herring prayers and condolences.
Meanwhile, Texas’ top officials flocked to the Hill Country disaster zone.
‘Personally contacted’
At a July 4 news conference, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, R-Texas, said TDEM’s Region 6 Assistant Chief Jay Hall had “personally contacted the judges and the mayors in that area and notified them all of potential flooding.”
The emails and text messages obtained from KXAS show no record of Hall’s contacts. KXAN separately filed a public record request to TDEM for any communication records and call logs that would show Hall’s outreach to Herring and other officials in the area. That request came back empty.
We have reached out to TDEM and Patrick’s office for clarification.