FEMA records show Kerr County officials did not use FEMA’s system to send warnings to phones in the critical hours as the flooding began on July 4.

The alert says there is a high chance the Guadalupe River will flood on Sunday. They’re asking for all people, equipment and vehicles to move away from the river immediately. They also said all volunteer operations are suspended until further notice, stating “safety of lives is the highest priority.”

In the last nine years, federal funding for a system has been denied to the county as it contends with a tax base hostile to government overspending.

Residents say Kerr County’s use of CodeRED alerts was sporadic and inconsistent. Local officials have not answered questions about when and how they utilized the system, which has been in place since 2009.

Over 12,000 volunteers have already assisted in Kerr County, according to the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

KERR COUNTY, Texas — Kerr County leaders debated the issue of installing emergency sirens along the Guadalupe River nearly a decade ago, but one former official said there was pushback from some residents.

It was the first time a new round of severe weather has paused the search since the flooding earlier this month. Search efforts are expected to resume Monday.

FEMA records show officials in Kerr County, Texas, did not use FEMA's system to send warnings to phones in the hours as the flooding began on July 4.

Kerr County officials reportedly failed to activate a powerful public alert system that could have saved lives before last week’s devastating flood.The Washington Post revealed that despite having the technology to turn every mobile phone in the river valley into a loud alarm,