Since 2016, the topic of a "flood warning system" for Kerr County has come up at 20 different county commissioners' meetings, according to minutes. The idea for a system was first introduced by Kerr County Commissioner Thomas Moser and Emergency Management Coordinator Dub Thomas in March 2016.

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Over the last decade, an array of Texas state and local agencies missed opportunities to fund a flood warning system intended to avert a disaster like the one that killed dozens of young campers and scores of others in Kerr County on the Fourth of July.

Federal forecasters issued their first flood warning at 1:14 a.m. on July 4. Local officials haven’t shed light on when they saw the warnings or whether they saw them in time to take action.

Over 35,000 signed a petition urging Kerr County to install flood warning sirens after flash flooding killed at least 100 people on July 4.

Twice, the Texas Division of Emergency Management turned down Kerr County's requests for money to improve flood warnings.

Kelly's remarks come in the aftermath of catastrophic flash floods that swept through Kerr County early Friday, when the Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Communities such as Hunt and Kerrville were inundated, with homes, roads and summer camps overwhelmed. At Camp Mystic in Hunt, 27 campers remain missing.

“5-12” of rain has occurred, an additional 2-5” possible,” NWS said. “This is a Particularly Dangerous Situation with life-threatening flash flooding. Seek higher ground if near a flooded creek or stream. Otherwise, avoid travel.”