The severe rainfall and flash flooding pounded central Texas in the early morning hours of July 4, surprising many people who said they did not receive emergency alerts on their phones or understand the severity of the warnings they received.

Following storms and floods that turned deadly over the holiday weekend, flood warnings remained in effect across central Texas on Monday

The death toll from flash floods that raged through central Texas has topped 80. The chance of life-threatening flooding was still high in central Texas.

Former federal officials and outside experts have warned for months that President Donald Trump’s staffing cuts to the National Weather Service could endanger lives.

Some experts say staff shortages might have complicated forecasters’ ability to coordinate responses with local emergency management officials.