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(NewsNation) — A panel of Texas lawmakers will head to hard-hit Kerr County on Thursday to hear directly from those most affected by deadly floods over the Fourth of July weekend.
The public hearing will center around emergency response to the catastrophic floods, which killed at least 135 people in Texas' Hill Country region.
Victims ranged in age from 8 to 91 years old, and included 27 campers and counselors at an all-girls Christian summer camp.
Local officials have faced criticism over the lack of warnings issued to residents along the Guadalupe River.
Investigation into flood response brings lawmakers to Kerr County
Thursday’s hearing is expected to be contentious, with a full agenda of state and local officials, including Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Officials are expected to testify about their response to the flash flooding, which has drawn widespread scrutiny.
The hearing comes as authorities have begun publicly releasing records and audio — including 911 calls — that have provided new glimpses into the escalating danger and chaos in the early hours of the July Fourth holiday.
Roberto Marquez places a cross at a memorial wall for flood victims July 13, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Rain falls over a makeshift memorial for flood victims along the Guadalupe River July 13, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Water rises from severe flooding along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, on July 4, 2025. (KSAT via AP)
Rain falls as Irene Valdez visits a make-shift memorial for flood victims along the Guadalupe River on July 13, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Members of a search and rescue team embrace as they visit a memorial wall for flood victims on July 13, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Kerrville Fire department staff search along the river in Kerrville, Texas, on July 10, 2025, after flash flooding.
A plush toy sits on the ground outside of a cabin at Camp Mystic, the site of where at least 20 girls went missing after flash flooding in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
A Texas state flag flies in a yard filled with debris on July 6, 2025 in Hunt, Texas. Heavy rainfall caused flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas with multiple fatalities reported. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)
A Camp Mystic sign is seen near the entrance to the establishment along the banks of the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
They include panicked and confused messages from residents caught in trees as well as families fleeing with children from homes with water creeping up to the knees.
“People are dying,” one woman tells a 911 operator in call logs released by nearby Kendall County. She says she had a young relative at a church camp in Kerr County who was stranded along with his classmates because of the high waters.
“I don’t want them to get stuck in a low-water crossing. And what are they going to do? They have like 30 kids," the woman says.
The devastation in the state’s Hill Country region and a partisan redrawing of congressional maps, aimed at giving Republicans more winnable seats in the 2026 elections, are significant issues in the 30-day special session, which is already off to a combative start.
Democrats have said flood relief and early warning systems must be addressed before they will consider any votes on redistricting sought by President Donald Trump. They have not ruled out a walkout in an effort to derail the redistricting effort, which they have criticized as a partisan power grab.
Texas Hill Country residents to speak at public hearing
Thursday's hearing will allow Kerrville-area residents to speak directly to authorities and lawmakers about the tragedy.
One man in Kerrville told NewsNation he believes there is too much politics and not enough humanity involved in the response.
Sam Snider, a volunteer from San Antonio, said he’s been in the central Texas town since the flooding happened.
“The community still needs support. There's been an influx of good-intentioned people … But there's still massive amounts of families that are still suffering,” Snider said.
This is the second hearing offering public comment since the floods. The first lasted nearly 12 hours.
NewsNation's Xavier Walton and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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