Texas Floods: Death toll rises to 119, 160 missing; Trump’s FEMA plans face scrutiny

The devastating floods sweeping through central Texas have claimed at least 119 lives, with over 160 people still unaccounted for, reports CNN. The catastrophe has triggered fresh scrutiny of the country’s emergency response model, especially as US President Donald Trump, who recently proposed phasing out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is now touting a swift federal response to the crisis.Emergency planning questionedConcerns are also mounting over whether proper precautions were taken in the days before the floods. Records obtained by CNN show that a state inspector had cleared Camp Mystic, where 27 people died, as having an emergency plan just two days before the disaster. The revelation has sparked new questions about how effectively that plan was followed.Governor Abbott, who toured the affected areas recently, said the state’s emergency alert system would be reviewed in a special legislative session this month.Trump administration backs FEMA responseDespite Trump’s previous statements about wanting to "wean off of FEMA" and shift responsibility to states, his administration is now highlighting how quickly FEMA has responded to the Texas disaster. The president approved Governor Greg Abbott’s request for a major disaster declaration within a day, unlocking federal assistance for affected residents and local authorities.In a Cabinet meeting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told Trump, “We’re cutting through the paperwork of the old FEMA, streamlining it, much like your vision of how FEMA should operate.”

She added that the federal support to Texas resembled the "state block grants" model championed by the president.However, former FEMA officials argued the agency’s current involvement reflects its traditional role rather than any substantial shift. “This is a defining event that can help them realise that a Federal Emergency Management Agency is essential,” said Michael Coen, former FEMA chief of staff under Presidents Obama and Biden. “Imagine if an event like this happened a year from now, after FEMA is eliminated.”