Kerr County disaster plan not fully followed, records show

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Kerr County and the City of Kerrville had a plan to prepare for and respond to disasters like the deadly Independence Day floods that killed at least 108 people — including 37 children — one month ago. But a KXAN review of public records found that some key parts of the plan weren't followed

"We have not done a full-scale evacuation exercise, no sir," Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator William B. Thomas told lawmakers at a special hearing in Kerrville on July 31, contradicting the county's own emergency management plan.

"I don't know how you guys can be good at what you do," Sen. Charles Perry, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.

"I agree," Thomas responded.

The 55-page document, filed with the Texas Division of Emergency Management in November 2020, covered Kerr County, Kerrville and Ingram. KXAN obtained it this week as part of a public records request.

The plan states preparedness activities "will" be conducted, including: "appropriate training for emergency responders, emergency management personnel, other local officials and volunteer groups" and "periodic drills and exercises to test our plans and training."

"Swiftwater rescue is just something, actually, we were looking into that," Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha added at the hearing tasked with looking into what can be done to prevent a future disaster. "And, you know, we don't have the area here to train."

The apparent preparation problems came despite previous weather warnings. The emergency plan calls the risk of flash flooding and river flooding "Highly Likely" to occur with an estimated "MAJOR" impact on public health, safety and property. The plan notes major disasters can occur "at any time and at any place" -- some, "with little or no warning."

In 2017, Kerr County, Kerrville and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority released a video warning about the region's history of "monstrous and devastating flash floods."

"Our Cities of Kerrville, Ingram and Kerr County is [sic] exposed to many hazards," the disaster plan warns, "all of which have the potential for disrupting the community, causing casualties, and damaging or destroying public or private property."

Thomas, who appears in the 2017 video, was the person responsible for coordinating evacuations, according to the emergency plan. Sending the warnings fell to the responsibility of Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha with Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly acting in support roles.

At the hearing, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, asked Kelly why an evacuation order wasn't issued.

"It was too late," Kelly responded. "It was too late."

During the hearing, it was revealed that when the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes, Thomas was sick and asleep. Leitha woke up after people were already trapped on roofs. Kelly was at a house on Lake Travis, near Austin, approximately 100 miles away.

"Everyone here that day [July 4] was working their a-- off," Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told Kelly during the hearing. "And you were nowhere to be found."

"The three guys in Kerr County who were responsible for sounding the alarm were effectively unavailable," Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, remarked.

County and city officials insist the storm's ferocity came too fast, without warning, and the damage was unavoidable. Mayor Herring told KXAN even if he had attended the July 3 TDEM “Situational Awareness Call for Severe Weather Affecting the State of Texas," it likely wouldn't have made a difference, since briefing materials, sent before 10 a.m., showed a "slight" risk of flash flooding.

That afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for parts of the western Hill Country, including Kerrville.

Asked, in hindsight, if he would do anything differently, Herring told KXAN: "Well, I wish I had superhuman power to see the future.”