The catastrophic flash floods that struck Central Texas over the July 4 weekend have claimed at least 82 lives, with 68 bodies recovered from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp in Kerr County. The rapid rise of the Guadalupe River left no time for evacuation. Officials confirmed that one counselor and ten girls remain missing. While families at neighboring Camp Waldemar narrowly avoided tragedy, the overwhelming grief and devastation at Camp Mystic have shaken the region.

Local authorities admitted there were no formal evacuation orders issued before the floods. Kerr County officials offered no clear answers, prompting scrutiny of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) forecasting failures. A New York Times investigation found that key positions at NWS and NOAA were left vacant, particularly in regional offices like San Angelo and San Antonio. These gaps reportedly hindered timely alerts and accurate rainfall projections.

The staffing crisis has been traced back to budget cuts and early retirement incentives implemented during Donald Trump’s presidency, under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was influenced by Elon Musk. Over 600 NWS positions were reportedly lost, including senior hydrologists and lead meteorologists. Critics say these reductions left communities unprepared for the scale of the disaster.

Public outrage grew after Grok, an AI chatbot developed by Musk’s company, appeared to confirm that Trump and Musk’s policies contributed to the tragedy. Grok cited underestimations in rainfall and delayed warnings as key factors, sparking a heated online debate about responsibility and accountability.

Although President Trump signed a federal disaster declaration and promised aid, many argue it came too late. The tragedy at Camp Mystic—once a place of joy—is now a grim symbol of loss, policy failure, and the urgent need to reassess national investments in emergency preparedness.