Sun Jul 06 11:10:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the text:

**Summary:**

Severe flooding in Central Texas, resulting in multiple deaths, has raised concerns about staffing shortages at local National Weather Service (NWS) offices. Some experts believe these shortages hindered the NWS’s ability to effectively coordinate with local emergency management officials as the disaster unfolded. While Texas officials criticized the NWS’s initial rainfall forecasts as underestimates, former NWS officials defended the forecasts, citing the storm’s rapid intensification and the sheer volume of rain. The tragedy has also brought to light questions about local preparedness, specifically Kerr County’s lack of a flood warning system due to cost and taxpayer resistance, according to the county judge.

**News Article:**

**Texas Floods Raise Questions About Weather Service Staffing and Local Preparedness**

*By [Hypothetical Byline – e.g., The Associated Press]*

CENTRAL TEXAS – The devastating floods that swept through Central Texas on Friday, leaving a growing number of fatalities, are prompting scrutiny of both the National Weather Service’s forecasting capabilities and the preparedness of local communities.

While Texas officials have voiced concerns that initial NWS forecasts underestimated the severity of the rainfall, experts suggest staffing shortages at local NWS offices may have complicated the agency’s ability to coordinate effectively with local emergency management personnel as floodwaters surged. Several key positions were reportedly unfilled, potentially impacting communication during the critical hours after flash flood warnings were issued.

Former NWS officials defended the forecasts, arguing they were accurate given the storm’s sudden escalation and unprecedented rainfall. However, they acknowledged that a lack of experienced personnel could have hampered vital communication efforts.

The tragedy has also brought to light preparedness deficiencies at the local level. Kerr County, where many deaths occurred, lacks a flood warning system. County Judge Rob Kelly cited the expense and taxpayer resistance as reasons for not implementing such a system. “Taxpayers won’t pay for it,” Kelly stated, adding uncertainty as to whether the current disaster might change that stance.

The NWS staffing shortages and the preparedness of local communities, are now key areas of focus as investigations into the disaster response unfold.

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