Kerr County failed to secure a warning system, even as local officials remained aware of the risks and as billions of dollars were available for similar projects.

Flooding has been at the top of Texans’ minds this week, but this is not the first time that the need for flood-related measures has come up among local officials.

CBS News analysis shows there were 22 warnings sent by the National Weather Service for Kerr County and the Kerrville area, but many residents say they didn't get alerts.

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.

Governor Greg Abbott said search and rescue efforts would continue in the wake of the deadly floods "until this job is finished".

The first weather emergency alert sent by the National Weather Service with urgent language instructing people to "seek higher ground now" was sent at 4:03 a.m. local time.