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DHS secretary Noem calls for improvements to the meteorological system after a fatal flood in Texas

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After a flood of Texas killed at least 32 people on Friday, the secretary of the Ministry of Internal Security (DHS), Kristi Noem, criticized the notification before the flood, claiming that the administration is working on updating the National Weather Service and “neglected” and “old” systems of the NOAA.

Citing his stay at the Congress and as a governor of southern Dakota, Noem said that although time is difficult to plan, there have been cases where officials and citizens have expressed the need for a faster warning and clearer notification before deadly time.

“This is one of the reasons why, when President (Donald) Trump took office, he said he wanted to repair and improve technology,” said Noem at a press conference with state officials on Saturday afternoon.

“The National Weather Service said that with this and the (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) (NOAA), we had to renew this old system which was left in place with the federal government for many years.”

Parents are desperately looking for answers on missing campers after the flood of Texas

Texas flood

The crews work to erase the debris from the CADE buckle bridge along the Guadalupe river on Saturday in Ingram, Texas. (AP photo / Rodolfo Gonzalez)

The National Weather Service told Noem that its notification service began to examine the expansion of its limited area of ​​flood impact at 1:18 p.m. on Thursday, around 12 hours before the tragedy.

Although a flooded watch has been made, Noem described it as a “moderate” alert.

“When the system (weather) came to the area, it has stalled,” she said. “It was much more water, a bit like (what) that we experienced during (hurricane) Harvey, with the same type of system that was unpredictable in the way he reacted the way he stopped here and poured out unprecedented quantities of rain that caused an flood event like this.”

Sudden flood in comfort, Texas

A view of the drone shows debris on a road after sudden floods of Comfort, Texas. (Reuters / Marco Bello)

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The first reports indicated that heavy rains on Friday morning increased the Guadalupe river by almost 30 feet in 45 minutes.

Meteorological service The employees told Noem They continued to raise the notifications, although these alerts would probably have gone through the early hours of the morning when local residents were sleeping.

Texas officials confirmed at least 32 deaths on Saturday, including 14 children.

The interior security secretary, Kristi Noem, and Governor Greg Abbott, discuss the ongoing efforts for the recent floods along the Guadalupe river during a press conference in Ingram, Texas, on Saturday July 5, 2025, as chief of the Emergency Management Division of Texas, Nim Kidd, on the left.

DHS secretary, Kristi Noem, and Governor of Texas Greg Abbott discuss continuous efforts after recent floods along the Guadalupe river during a press conference in Ingram, Texas on Saturday. (AP photo / Rodolfo Gonzalez)

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One of the hardest affected areas was Camp Mystic, a private Christian camp for girls Hunt, Texas.

Saturday afternoon, 27 young girls remain disappeared.

“I respond to your concerns to the federal government, President Trump, and we will do our best to repair these kinds of things that may have been a failure for you and for members of your community,” Noem told a journalist.

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“We know that everyone wants more warning time, and that is why we are working to upgrade the technologies that have been overlooked for too long, to make sure that families have as much notice as possible,” she added.

Noem said the reform was underway, although it has not announced a specific calendar.

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