Death toll from flooding in Kerr County climbs to 103
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President Donald Trump toured the devastation left by flash flooding in central Texas amid growing questions about how local officials responded to the crisis as well as questions about the federal response -- including the fate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency -- that he has so far avoided.
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FOX 7 Austin on MSNKerr County flood deaths surpass 100 as search for missing continuesThe death toll in Kerr County, Texas climbed above 100 Friday night as recovery operations continued in the county on a day when President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump toured the damage left behind by July 4 flash flooding.
FEMA records show Kerr County officials did not use FEMA’s system to send warnings to phones in the critical hours as the flooding began on July 4.
In the last nine years, federal funding for a system has been denied to the county as it contends with a tax base hostile to government overspending.
State officials said rescue efforts in Central Texas following devastating flooding continue, emphasizing the state's continued commitment to recovery.
At a Wednesday morning press conference, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha declined to answer a question about delayed emergency alerts, saying that an "after-action" would follow the search and rescue efforts. "Those questions are gonna be answered," he added.
Twice, the Texas Division of Emergency Management turned down Kerr County's requests for money to improve flood warnings.
Plans to develop a flood monitoring system in the Texas county hit hardest by deadly floods were scheduled to begin only a few weeks later.