Democrats in Texas, including Greg Casar and Jasmine Crockett, are seeking information from the federal agencies tasked with responding to disasters after deadly floods in Texas Hill Country claimed over 100 lives.
On Friday, Casar and Crockett sent a letter requesting data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to assess how prepared they were for the recent floods. They also want to investigate whether cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) affected their response.
This request comes on the heels of a report where Kristi Noem, the Director of Homeland Security, indicated that certain regulations may have hindered rescue operations following the flooding.
The letter, which was also endorsed by Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), a prominent member of the House Oversight Committee, highlighted the urgent need to understand the causes of the tragedy. “The significant loss of life necessitates a thorough investigation into contributing factors,” they wrote. “We must ensure adequate monitoring to provide answers to the grieving community in central Texas and to protect lives in future weather crises.”
The correspondence directed at FEMA requested records of communication between Noem and her top aides, alongside documents regarding state and local requests to FEMA or DHS.
Reports surfaced noting that FEMA’s processes regarding grants over $100,000 may have stalled the federal response in Texas. Noem disputed these claims in an appearance on Fox News, labeling them as “fake news.”
Meanwhile, President Trump, currently assessing the damage in Texas, supported Noem, asserting that she handled the situation well.
The Texas Democrats are specifically asking for guidelines or internal reports concerning the DHS Secretary’s authority related to spending rules. They also want documents on the requirements for contracts or grants that exceed $100,000.
In their letter to NOAA, the lawmakers sought more details on how the public was warned about the flash floods, requesting communication records between NOAA and Texas officials, local media coverage, emergency warnings from NWS, and information on how emergency alert systems functioned.
Furthermore, they urged the Department of Commerce inspectors, who oversee NOAA, to launch an investigation into the disaster warning systems.
