Rosie O’Donnell Points Finger at Trump for Texas Flood Crisis: What You Need to Know

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell recently shared her thoughts on the deadly flash floods in central Texas, which have tragically taken over 70 lives. In a TikTok video, she linked the flooding to President Donald Trump’s poor decisions regarding government spending. O’Donnell stated, “When the president guts all of the early warning systems, these kinds of disasters are the results we’ll see more often.”

Earlier this year, the Department of Government Efficiency significantly reduced jobs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS). According to a June article in The New York Times, NWS lost around 600 staffers during these cuts. This, O’Donnell argues, endangers lives.

“The bill that was just signed into law will hurt many people,” she said, criticizing Republican leaders for supporting it. She emphasized, “Shame on him and all the GOP sycophants.”

The flooding began on July 4, following torrential rains that forced the Guadalupe River to rise 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Roads were washed out, devastating six counties. W. Nim Kidd, Texas Emergency Management Chief, expressed frustration during a press conference, noting that the forecasts from the NWS didn’t predict the extreme rainfall experienced.

“We expected 3-6 inches of rain, but we got much more,” he said.

In response to the crisis, President Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration, allowing FEMA to provide aid. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also mentioned that upgrades to technology at NOAA and NWS are underway, aiming to improve forecasting systems that have lagged for years.

Recent statistics support concerns about emergency preparedness; a study by the Pew Research Center found that nearly 60% of Americans feel unprepared for natural disasters. Upgrading warning systems may help bridge this gap.

In today’s world, accurate weather predictions are crucial. Extreme weather events are more common, and the fallout affects communities deeply. As O’Donnell highlighted, better forecasting can save lives, making it ever more important to invest in these essential services.

For more on government responses to natural disasters, you can read the full analysis at the FEMA website.

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