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

Searches were suspended and a new flash flood warning was issued in Kerrville and Kerr County, Texas, on July 13 in the wake of the flooding that struck the area last week on July 4. The warning was downgraded to a flood watch hours later.

Over the last decade, an array of local and state agencies have missed opportunities to fund a flood warning system intended to avert the type of disaster that swept away dozens of youth campers and others in Kerr County,

Kerr County had discussed buying such things as water gauges and sirens after previous flood disasters. But as with many rural Texas counties, cost was an issue.