Plus, Republicans strategists are advising lawmakers to appeal to working class voters when selling Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" ahead of the midterms.

State lawmakers are now taking matters into their own hands to improve disaster response and preparedness across Texas.

State and local officials said they did their best to coordinate evacuations and rescues, but better cellphone service might help in future floods.

The Department of Homeland Security secretary defended the federal government's response and denied that policy changes slowed the agency's deployment.

Noem and others have faced criticism for their response to the tragedy in which more than a hundred are dead or missing.

The homeland security secretary said a report that thousands of calls to a disaster hotline went unanswered because of staffing cuts was “false.”

The federal response to the flash flooding disaster in Texas has come under scrutiny. President Trump, who has called for cuts to FEMA, praised the agency during his recent visit to Texas, but did not comment on his plans for its future.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended FEMA's response to Texas flooding, calling Democrat criticism politically motivated as the agency deployed over 700 workers within hours.

New reporting reveals multiple urban search and rescue teams from across the country that responded to the deadly floods in central Texas told CNN that FEMA did not deploy them until days after any victim had been found alive.

A large percentage of people still unaccounted for were probably visiting the area, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said.

Kristi Noem detailed how the federal government deployed resources and funds to Texas flood victims, signaling fundamental changes to FEMA under the Trump administration.