Texas Flood Response Under Scrutiny as Officials Exchange Messages Mocking DHS Sec. Kristi Noem

Local officials in Kerrville, Texas, are facing growing criticism following the deadly Fourth of July weekend floods that killed at least 137 people statewide, including 108 in Kerr County alone, as reported by The Daily Mail.

Newly released public records show internal communication failures, delayed emergency response, and mocking messages directed at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—just hours after her visit to the devastated area.

Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice referred to Secretary Noem as “basically Homeland Barbie” in a July 5 text message, following a joint press conference where both appeared to address the unfolding disaster.

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The comment was made in response to a city staffer who texted Rice, “Just saw you met Homeland Barbi, how is she?!?!?!” Rice replied, “Beahahaha basically homeland Barbie.”

The disparaging message, revealed in records obtained by KSAT through public information requests, has sparked backlash as residents and victims’ families call for accountability.

Kerrville city manager referred to Kristi Noem as ‘basically homeland Barbie’ after flooding media briefing, texts show ⁦@ksatnews⁩ https://t.co/z72zkDdW3k

— Larry O. Dean (@larryodean) July 28, 2025

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Noem, who became Homeland Security Secretary earlier this year, visited Kerrville following the floods that struck early on July 4.

The records also exposed the lack of preparedness and response by city and county officials. On the evening of July 3, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. texted Rice about plans for Independence Day festivities at Louise Hays Park.

“Big day tomorrow at LHP,” he wrote. The event was canceled after flash flooding tore through the region overnight.

By 6:37 a.m. on July 4, Herring texted Rice asking for the location of the emergency operations center, as the city began to grasp the scale of the unfolding disaster.

Yet the records show off-duty firefighters were not called in until nearly 9:00 a.m., hours after the worst of the flooding had already passed.

One of the deadliest scenes was at Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River, where 27 children and staff died.

Fifteen of the victims were in a single cabin known as Bubble Inn. The first flash flood warning had been issued by the National Weather Service at 1:14 a.m., more than three hours before the river rose over 30 feet and inundated the camp.

In another text thread, Councilwoman Delayne Sigerman commented, “Whoever prayed for this should pray for cease fire in Israel.”

Councilwoman Brenda Hughes replied, “Ugh!!! Not what we needed today (sad face emoji).”

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha acknowledged the failures, stating that Emergency Management Coordinator W.B. “Dub” Thomas was “at home asleep at the time” the flooding began.

Leitha told CNN that the county will “take a hard look” at the response and Thomas’s performance.

While Tropical Storm Barry had been tracked days in advance and emergency crews were already mobilized, Kerr County’s response has come under intense scrutiny for delayed alerts and communication breakdowns.

Neither Rice nor other city officials have responded to requests for comment on the texts or the emergency management failures.

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