A Kerrville-area river authority executed a contract for a flood warning system that would have been used to help with emergency response, local officials said.

Federal forecasters issued their first flood warning at 1:14 a.m. on July 4. Local officials haven’t shed light on when they saw the warnings or whether they saw them in time to take action.

The county’s largest city, Kerrville, declined to participate in a joint grant application that would have required a $50,000 contribution. Meanwhile in the nearby community of Comfort, a long, flat-three minute warning sound signifying flood danger helped evacuate the town of 2,

Twice, the Texas Division of Emergency Management turned down Kerr County's requests for money to improve flood warnings.

Kerr County, Texas, lacked a “last mile” warning mechanism that could have saved residents before the deadly floods devastated the area, including a children’s summer camp, killing more than 80 people.

Kelly's remarks come in the aftermath of catastrophic flash floods that swept through Kerr County early Friday, when the Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Communities such as Hunt and Kerrville were inundated, with homes, roads and summer camps overwhelmed. At Camp Mystic in Hunt, 27 campers remain missing.

“5-12” of rain has occurred, an additional 2-5” possible,” NWS said. “This is a Particularly Dangerous Situation with life-threatening flash flooding. Seek higher ground if near a flooded creek or stream. Otherwise, avoid travel.”