1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:03,559 Speaker 1: But I agree, when you're talking about twenty six feet 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: of water in forty five minutes, there is simply no way. 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 2: To prepare for that. It is a tragedy. 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 3: In those politicizing it ought to be ashamed of themselves 5 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 3: and Joe again, we cannot tame Mother Nature at all. 6 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 3: This is a forty seven Morning Update special edition with 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 3: Ben ferguson. 8 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: Good Tuesday morning. It is nice to have you with 9 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: us on the forty seven Morning Update. Is it is 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: a tough morning, a sad morning, as we look at 11 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: the horrific flooding and the loss of life in Texas. 12 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: I'm going to give you personal details of what has 13 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: happened and give you the full story of exactly what 14 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: the left is now trying to do and use this 15 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: tragedy to push their own climate agenda and also blaming 16 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: Donald Trump. Will give you the details on that in 17 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: the moment. It's the forty seven Morning Update and it 18 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: starts right now. 19 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 3: Story number one. 20 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 1: I want to first start by saying that this is 21 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: a very tough show to do this morning. 22 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 2: I know people that have lost loved ones. 23 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: I know people that are going to funerals over the 24 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: next couple days who lost their children at camp right 25 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 1: there on the Guadawaalupe River where the flooding happened. I 26 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: know this area because it is where my family goes 27 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: to spend time throughout the year, right there in Kerrville. 28 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 1: It is an area that I know incredibly well, as 29 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: I've spent days and days there with my family. The 30 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: thought of having to deal with the flooding and the 31 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: way that it happened there, I want you to understand, 32 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: no one could prepare for what I would describe as 33 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 1: a once in a lifetime, one hundred year flood. There 34 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: are many in the left and in the media that 35 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: are trying to politicize this to attack Donald Trump and 36 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: say that the National Weather Service had cuts and staff 37 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: and that's the reason why people died. There are others 38 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: that's saying the disaster response was all Donald Trump's fault 39 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: because of cut Both of these are absolute lies. You 40 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: also need to understand in Kerrville, in this area where 41 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: the flooding happened and the loss of life happened, this 42 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: is an area that when it rains, the water is 43 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: not really absorbed into the ground like in most parts 44 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: of the country. If it rains at my house, significantly. 45 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: The water goes into the ground, but there is so 46 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,119 Speaker 1: much rock and Curveville in that area that you get 47 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: these flash floods because the water builds up instantly and 48 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: starts to flood the area. It's also an area where 49 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: they don't actually receive that much rain. They can go 50 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: hundreds of days without seeing rain. This is an area 51 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: that is rural. It is a town that is so kind. 52 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 1: It is a group of people that are incredibly welcoming. 53 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: And you may not realize, but Curveville was the same 54 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: place where this strategy took happened, that was considered one 55 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: of the best places to see the total eclipse. Just 56 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: a little over a year ago, more than a million 57 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: people went to the hill country, Kerrville being the epicenter 58 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: of the blackout. That's where I was when the blackout happened, 59 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: and it was truly incredible to see the people there 60 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: were so welcoming, to people that drove in and flew 61 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: in from all over the country. But to watch and 62 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: to witness what has happened since then by the left 63 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: is truly just disgusting. I want to go through some 64 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: of the lies for you so that you understand exactly 65 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: what the truth is. For example, the left is saying 66 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 1: that the National Weather Service didn't have the staffing that 67 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: needed because it had been cut by Donald Trump. 68 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 2: That is a lie, and. 69 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: I hope you'll take this show and share it everywhere 70 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: that you can. We now know that meteorologists had argued 71 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration known as NOAA 72 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: and the National Weather Service did their jobs well during 73 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: the devastating Texas flash floods. In fact, they even had 74 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: quote unquote extra staff on hand for the storm, despite Democrats' 75 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: claims that the Trump administration cut the agencies, contributing to 76 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: the loss of life over the holiday weekend. They were 77 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: trying to score political points, trying to go after Donald 78 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: Trump and conservatives. Even establishment media outlets ran with this lie. 79 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 1: The Associated Press reported on the weather community's pushback on 80 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 1: the narrative, while the Democratic National Committee actually sent out 81 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: memos arguing that the Trump administration quote refused to backfill 82 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: key roles, likely contributing to preventable deaths and worsened devastation. 83 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 2: All of it a lie. 84 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: The Associated Press, for example, cited the NWS meteorologists Jason Runyon, 85 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: who said the agency's office in New Bronzevills that serves Austin, 86 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: Santoni and the surrounding areas in fact had more people 87 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: on duty than normal just before the flash floods occurred 88 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: before sunrise on front, saying this, there were extra people 89 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: in here that night, and that's typical in every Weather 90 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 1: Service office. You staff up for an event and bring 91 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 1: people in on overtime and you hold people over, explaining 92 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: that the office head up to five people on staff 93 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: when they would typically have two. Not only did the 94 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: National Weather Service also issue a series of flash flood 95 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: warnings in the early hours Friday, before issuing flash flood 96 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 1: emergencies a rare alert notifying of immediate danger, this according 97 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: to the AP, but they also put out the initial 98 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: floodwatch at one eighteen pm the day before, yet again 99 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: showing how much the left is willing to lie and 100 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: no matter who's affected, including children that are dying, just 101 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: to score political points. What you also need to know 102 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: is the notices grew increasingly in the early morning hours 103 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 1: of Friday, culminating in a four h three am warning 104 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 1: for the potential of catastrophic damage and a severe threat 105 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: to human life. 106 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 2: Again, another warning going out. 107 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: Notice an outlet that the characterized the National Weather Service 108 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: staffing cuts as quote unquote aggressive moves by the Trump administration. 109 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: EVE report that the agency quote did have ex ra 110 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: staff on hand for the storm. Yet again, more lies 111 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: by the left. At the River Forecast Center, we usually 112 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: close overnight unless there is a flood threat. We identified 113 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: the threat and we increased overnight coverage, and we're staffed 114 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: twenty four during this event, is what Greg Waller, the 115 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:40,359 Speaker 1: service coordination hydrologists at the National Weather Service West Gulf 116 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: River Forecast Center said. As well, the Austin, San Antonio 117 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: and San Angelo offices had also beefed up their staffing 118 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: prior to the storm. Some of the areas hit by 119 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: the flash floods, like the grounds occupied by Camp Mystic 120 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 1: and Kerr County, may have been impacted by spotty cell service. 121 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:03,239 Speaker 1: Is unclear if everyone who needed to evacuate actually received 122 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: the alerts on their phone that went out, while are 123 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: added in a statement to the Texas Tribune, we had 124 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: adequate staffing, we had adequate technology. 125 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 2: This was us doing our jobs the best of our ability. Now. 126 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: They also reported that the National Weather Service forecast quote 127 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: did not definitively state the record breaking rains that were 128 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: going to fall that night. That is what a former 129 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: agency official told the outlet. That the forecast was abou 130 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 1: as good as could be reasonably expected based on the 131 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: math that they had on hand. Bottom line, we all 132 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: need to work towards an improved alert system, the former 133 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: official added. It's pretty hard to forecast these kinds of 134 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: rainfall rates. Is what a former National Weather Service director 135 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: told The New York Times and the Kirk County Judge 136 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: Rob Kelly, whose own property was among those damage, said quote, 137 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: we know that we get these rains, we know the 138 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: river rises, but nobody saw this coming. Kelly, the county's 139 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: pective official, added that a flood warning siren system was 140 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: in consideration to be placed along the now devastated Guadalupe 141 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: River before he was in office about six years ago, 142 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: but unfortunately it was never executed. 143 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 2: We've looked into it before. 144 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: The public reeled at the cost, the judge told the 145 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: Associated Press, especially for a small community. So at the 146 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: end of the day, there are two narratives. There's a 147 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: narrative that they want to tell you on TV MSNBC 148 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: putting it this way, saying, quote, the White House is 149 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: taking a really defensive posture on the idea that Trump 150 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: did anything to hurt the people of Texas. Well, he 151 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: didn't hurt the people of Texas, and he didn't have 152 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: people that weren't on the job. And unfortunately, instead of 153 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: talking about the victims and the tragedy, the White House 154 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: had to go and set the record straight. And the 155 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: White House Practice Secretary put it perfectly when she said this. 156 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 4: I want to start by addressing the devastation from the 157 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 4: tragic flash floods in Texas. Moments ago, the Department of 158 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 4: Homeland Security for update that ninety one innocent souls have 159 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 4: now perished. Everyone here at the White House, including the 160 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 4: President of the United States, is praying for the victims, families, 161 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 4: and friends during this unimaginable time. President Trump swiftly signed 162 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 4: a major Disaster Declaration for Care County, Texas to ensure 163 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 4: our heroic first responders have every resource they need in 164 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:27,359 Speaker 4: the relief and recovery efforts. Secretary of Homeland Security Christinome 165 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 4: traveled to Texas over the weekend, and the entire Trump 166 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 4: administration is working hand in glove with state and local 167 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 4: officials to provide every assistance available. The situation on the 168 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 4: ground remains dangerous and there could be additional public safety 169 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:45,679 Speaker 4: threats with potential incoming heavy rain. So we encourage everyone 170 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 4: in the area to remain vigilant, listen to all warnings, 171 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 4: and respond accordingly. Unfortunately, in the wake of this once 172 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 4: in a generation natural disaster, we have seen many falsehoods 173 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 4: pushed by Democrats such as Senator Chuck Schumer and some 174 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 4: members of the media. Blaming President Trump for these floods 175 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 4: is a depraved lie and it serves no purpose during 176 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 4: this time of national mourning. Here are the facts. In 177 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 4: the lead up to this tragic natural disaster, the National 178 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 4: Weather Service did its job. Despite unprecedented rainfall. The National 179 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 4: Weather Service executed timely in precise forecasts and warnings. On 180 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:29,079 Speaker 4: July third, the National Weather Service Office in Austin, San Antonio, 181 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 4: Texas conducted forecast briefings for emergency management in the morning 182 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 4: and issued a floodwatch in the early afternoon. Flash flood 183 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 4: warnings were also issued on the night of July third 184 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 4: and in the early morning of July fourth, giving preliminary 185 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 4: lead times of more than three hours before flash flooding 186 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 4: conditions occurred. In the National Weather Service Office in New Brunfels, 187 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 4: which delivers forecasts for Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding areas, 188 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 4: had extra staff on duty during the storms, despite claims 189 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:02,559 Speaker 4: of the contrary. So to any person who has deliberately 190 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 4: lied about these facts surrounding this catastrophic event, you should 191 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 4: be deeply ashamed. At this time, the administration's focus will 192 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 4: be giving on giving the victims in their communities the 193 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 4: support they deserve during these recovery efforts in this tragic time. 194 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 4: May God bless the great people of Texas, especially the 195 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 4: parents who have lost their children. President Trump loves you, 196 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 4: we are praying for you, and he will be traveling 197 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 4: to see you later this week. 198 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: One thing that is for sure, President United States of 199 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: America will go visit the people in Texas and give 200 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: them the support, the comfort, and a government response that 201 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,599 Speaker 1: they deserve, regardless of how cynical and how sick the 202 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: left and the media has become to lie using the 203 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: death of children to try to score political points. 204 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to the forty seven Morning Update 205 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 3: with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever 206 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 3: you're listening to this podcast right now and for more 207 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 3: in depth news also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson podcast, 208 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 3: and we will see you back here tomorrow