Over 100 dead in Texas floods as California deploys disaster teams

Sacramento, California – California is sending specialized Urban Search and Rescue teams to Texas as the state reels from the aftermath of catastrophic flooding that has claimed more than 100 lives. The move, announced by Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday, underscores California’s increasingly prominent role in national disaster response while also highlighting a growing political debate over the federal government’s readiness for climate-related emergencies.

The deployment, coordinated through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and in partnership with FEMA, includes highly trained responders with experience in some of the country’s most severe disasters—ranging from 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina to California’s own devastating wildfires and mudslides. Cal OES has emphasized that the deployment will not affect emergency preparedness or firefighting efforts within the state.

Newsom framed the assistance as both an act of solidarity and a statement of urgency. “California stands with all those who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods in the devastating aftermath of these summer floods in Texas,” he said.

The floods come amid rising scrutiny of federal preparedness, particularly in light of staffing reductions at the National Weather Service (NWS) under the Trump administration. While the flooding in Texas appears to have been well-forecasted by meteorologists on the ground, questions remain about whether diminished staffing levels hindered coordination with local emergency services.

The Trump administration’s push for efficiency, carried out through the Department of Government Efficiency—once overseen by Elon Musk—led to a reduction of roughly 600 positions at the NWS through early retirements, voluntary buyouts, and terminations. According to the NWS union, these cuts left many local offices, including those in Texas, operating with critical vacancies.

In particular, the San Antonio office lacked a warning coordination meteorologist, a position essential for liaising between forecasters and emergency managers. The San Angelo office, meanwhile, was missing a senior hydrologist, a specialist in flood modeling and response. Though both offices increased staffing temporarily in anticipation of severe weather, experts say chronic understaffing may still have impaired communication between federal weather offices and local authorities.

“There is a real question as to whether the communication of weather information occurred in a way that was sub-optimal,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA. “The impact might have been partially averted if some of the people at the weather service responsible for making those communications were still employed.”

The White House has denied that the staffing cuts played any role in the Texas disaster. Still, the political and logistical questions persist as climate-related disasters become more frequent and intense. Against this backdrop, California’s intervention in Texas reads as both a humanitarian act and a stark contrast—showcasing a state that continues to invest in disaster readiness at a time when the federal infrastructure supporting such efforts appears increasingly strained.