“ Texas lawmakers largely ignored recommendations aimed at helping rural areas like Kerr County prepare for flooding ” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Kerr County officials now estimate that flood damage from the recent Central Texas disaster could exceed $200 million-and to help cover mounting recovery costs, they may raise property taxes for the first time in years.

Kerr County officials addressed the Fourth of July floods that killed dozens of people during a commissioners’ court meeting on Monday morning.

That includes an orange cat named Sampson, who disappeared when his family’s house was destroyed. “Samson’s owner did not give up looking for him. The family lost their home in the flood and both family cats were thought to be swept away,” Kerr Pets Alive said in a TikTok post.

Two days before the Guadalupe River rose with terrifying speed and force in Kerr County, Texas, a small team from

Kerrville officials said the county will live stream the meeting on its official YouTube channel to limit crowding and accommodate those who would prefer to stay off the roads.

A 16-member search and rescue team from the Czech Republic was among the groups that came to Texas to help with search and rescue efforts in Kerr County.

The Commerce Department acting inspector general's office will evaluate the National Weather Service’s actions around the catastrophic flooding in Texas