Casar, Crockett call for FEMA, NOAA details on Texas flood prep, response

Texas Democratic Reps. Greg Casar and Jasmine Crockett are demanding details and documents from federal agencies tasked with tracking and responding to disasters after catastrophic flooding in recent days killed more than 100 people in Texas Hill Country.

Crockett and Casar penned letters Friday seeking information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) about preparations for and response to the Texas flood.

Their inquiries center on whether recent Department of Government Efficiency cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) played a role or if Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA, impeded search and rescue efforts with certain rules.

The letters from Casar and Crockett, who sit on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, were also signed by the committee's ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.).

"The tragic loss of life suffered underscores the urgent need to understand what
contributed to this disaster," the lawmakers wrote in the letters. "Rigorous oversight is needed not only to provide answers to grieving communities in Central Texas, but to save lives in future extreme weather events."

In their letter directed to FEMA acting chief David Richardson, the Democratic lawmakers asked the agency to provide records of communications with Noem and her top aides, as well as all documents and discussions regarding state and local requests to DHS or FEMA.

CNN reported Thursday that Noem's cost control measures that require her direct approval for all contracts and grants more than $100,000 may have slowed the federal response to the Texas floods. Noem rejected the notion during an appearance on Fox News later that day.

"Fake News," she said. "It’s absolutely trash what they’re doing by saying that."

President Trump, who is in the Lone Star State to survey the damage, has also come to the former South Dakota governor's defense, telling NBC News late Thursday that Noem was "right on the ball” and has “done a great job.”

The Texas Democrats are specifically requesting "any policies, procedures, memos, or internal reports detailing the DHS Secretary’s authority related to spending rules" and "any written directive, policy, memo, or other document related to the requirement to get Secretary Noem’s approval for any contracts or grants over $100,000."

Their letter to NOAA, meanwhile, centered on how the public was alerted about the threat of dangerous flash flooding. They requested communications that took place between NOAA and Texas authorities and with local media, copies of NWS emergency alerts and a "detailed explanation" about how the national Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert System were used.

The lawmakers also penned a third letter Friday, urging the Commerce Department's inspector general, which oversees NOAA, to conduct an investigation into disaster warning systems.