Over the last decade, an array of local and state agencies have missed opportunities to fund a flood warning system intended to avert the type of disaster that swept away dozens of youth campers and others in Kerr County,

In the last nine years, federal funding for a system has been denied to the county as it contends with a tax base hostile to government overspending.

Despite the rising threat of climate disasters like last week’s deadly flash flood in Texas, the vast majority of America’s waterways are still not being monitored by water level gauges that help identify impending disasters.

LUMBERTON — Robeson County Emergency Management is closely monitoring conditions along the Lumber River and surrounding areas following rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal on

A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is either imminent or already occurring. In flood-prone areas, it's crucial to move immediately to higher ground. A flash flood is a sudden and violent inundation that can develop within minutes to hours, and it can even happen in areas not currently experiencing rainfall.

Kerr County had discussed buying such things as water gauges and sirens after previous flood disasters. But as with many rural Texas counties, cost was an issue.

A flood watch was in effect July 7 for several states, including Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. "Storm total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches, with local amounts up to 6 inches, is expected," the Weather Prediction Center said in a 5 a.m. ET update. "An elevated risk for flash flooding will continue."

A flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service on Tuesday at 6:21 a.m. in effect until 10:30 a.m. for Delaware County.

At a news conference on Sunday, Governor Greg Abbott said people in Texas were used to flash flood warnings, but there was no sense of how deadly this would be. "There's no expectation of a water wall of almost 30ft high," he added.

In addition to the flood threat, "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are expected to continue at beaches along the U.S. east coast from northeastern Florida to the Mid-Atlantic ...

"Flood waters have receded. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures," according to the National Weather Service.

A look at one Texas city’s weather warning system, as questions swirl about the timing of flash flood warnings.