Facing Funding Challenges for Flood Warnings: How Trump’s Administration is Impacting Kerr County

Over the years, Kerr County, Texas, has faced serious challenges with flooding. Many locals have died because of sudden floods. Officials knew a warning system was necessary to alert residents before disaster struck. However, finding funding for it proved difficult.

Like many communities, Kerr County sought help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fund a flood warning system. Research shows that when localities invest in disaster preparedness, they significantly reduce damage and save lives during emergencies.

Unfortunately, their application for funding was denied. There simply wasn’t enough money to go around. In Texas alone, over $54 billion in flood projects are waiting for approval, but funding from state legislatures has been minimal.

The situation worsened when the Trump administration imposed cuts on FEMA disaster funds and shifted responsibility for disaster preparedness to state and local governments. Christopher Steubing, executive director of the Texas Floodplain Management Association, emphasizes the importance of FEMA’s role, saying, “FEMA has a reason to be around and they need to be there.” Removing federal support leaves a significant gap for towns like Kerr County.

In 2016, Kerr County officials noticed that nearby areas were implementing flood warning systems. After the tragic flooding in Wimberley, where thirteen residents lost their lives, it became urgent for Kerr County to take action.

Officials identified gaps in their monitoring systems, including a lack of centralized gauges measuring river heights. Critical warning sirens were also absent in vulnerable areas, leaving residents at risk without timely alerts.

With plans put together costing just under $1 million, Kerr County approached FEMA again. They turned to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which allocates funds to help areas affected by disasters recover and prepare for future threats. But the county faced rejection once more, demonstrating the fierce competition for limited resources.

Funding challenges are common for many communities. Flood control projects often can’t generate the same revenue as other initiatives. This means towns may have to consider tax increases, which are politically tough to implement. Steubing remarked, “Those always kind of get shunned upon in this state.”

Making matters worse, significant federal programs designed to support disaster preparedness, like the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) initiative, have been halted. This shift reflects a broader trend in federal disaster management where financial support for proactive measures is dwindling.

While Texas has started the Flood Infrastructure Fund, intended to offer financial assistance for flood-related projects, programs often only cover a small part of the total costs—leaving communities to shoulder much of the burden themselves. For instance, Kerr County would have had to cover 95% of project costs under state grant formulas.

Despite the odds, Kerr County received $10 million from federal COVID-19 relief funds in 2021, which low-lying areas can use for a new emergency communication system. While it won’t solve the flooding issue directly, it provides essential infrastructure for first responders.

Even with funding for infrastructure, experts warn that simply building more projects won’t offer complete protection against flooding exacerbated by climate change. Many existing projects weren’t designed to handle the more intense rainfall that comes with climate change, leading to bottlenecks in flood management.

Jim Blackburn, a co-director at Rice University’s Severe Storm Prevention Center, emphasizes the need for new strategies. He notes that the historical data that engineers used to depend on for planning is now outdated. Communities must adapt by relocating at-risk populations, creating natural buffers like wetlands, and developing long-term strategies rather than repeating past mistakes.

The path forward for communities like Kerr County will require fresh thinking and collaborative efforts, not just in funding but in public safety policy. As the conversation about climate change and its impacts grows, it’s vital for all levels of government to prioritize resilient infrastructure and effective disaster preparation plans.



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