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NBC News
a day ago
- Climate
- NBC News
As questions mount over Texas floods, a key decision-maker remains silent
KERRVILLE, Texas — Before the flash flooding in Texas' Hill Country materialized in the early hours of July 4, Kerr County's most senior elected official said he had no inkling of the pending disaster that would sweep away structures and set off harrowing rescues across the region. 'We didn't know this flood was coming,' County Judge Rob Kelly said at a news conference later that morning, in response to why summer camps along the rain-swollen Guadalupe River weren't evacuated earlier, before many were missing or feared dead. 'We do not have a warning system,' he added, referring to the sirens along the river in other counties, used to notify of imminent flooding. The following day, at a news conference with Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials, Kelly said of the preparedness effort: 'It's just Hill Country, and we didn't know.' In Texas, the county judge serves many functions in addition to judicial duties, including serving as the head of emergency management and handling many administrative functions in the county. But with a death toll surpassing 100 people — 60 adults and 36 children in Kerr County alone — and at least 176 still unaccounted for as of Friday, county officials are facing questions about what actions were taken ahead of the flooding and who was in command and communicating with the National Weather Service, particularly once the agency issued its first flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. Efforts to reach Kelly this week, including by phone and at the emergency operations center, his office and his home, were unsuccessful. He hasn't spoken publicly since his appearances at news conferences in the immediate aftermath of the flood. In addition, William 'Dub' Thomas, Kerr County's emergency management coordinator, has not spoken publicly and did not return repeated requests for comment. He also could not be reached at the emergency operations center or his home. Thomas, who has been the county's top emergency coordinator since 2015, is responsible for its emergency management plan, the emergency notification system known as CodeRed, its search and rescue team and other disaster-related duties, according to the Rotary Club of Kerrville website. Previously, while working for the Texas Department of Public Safety, Thomas helped direct the state's response to several catastrophic events, including the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Kelly, a Republican who first took office in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022, has worked as a commercial litigation attorney and, in his role as county judge, he oversees Kerr County's four-person commission and its budget. Kelly was a certified member of the Kerr County Community Emergency Response Team, according to a bio on the Rotary Club of Kerville website. 'I truly believe God has been preparing me for this position all my life,' Kelly said in The Kerrville Daily Times in 2017 about running for the county judge before the election. 'I didn't go looking for this job, it came looking for me.' Tom Pollard, the former county judge Kelly replaced, said that in any major event, such as a disaster that requires an evacuation, the emergency management coordinator is in charge but takes direction from the county judge. 'The buck stops with the county judge's office, but the management director handles it and just gets going,' Pollard said. 'And he'll talk to a county judge every now and then, and if there's a decision that needs to be made, he'll consult with the judge who makes a decision.' Pollard said neither he nor his wife received emergency notifications on their phone in the early morning of the flooding. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring said Tuesday on MSNBC that he saw no emergency alerts and was awakened only by a call from City Manager Dalton Rice at 5:30 a.m. By daybreak, the Guadalupe River had risen 26 feet in 45 minutes, according to sensor data. Just after 4 a.m., the National Weather Service had upgraded its flash flood warning to an emergency for Kerr County, advising that it was a 'PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!' Facebook posts from Kerrville police were posted after 5 a.m. regarding 'life threatening' flooding, but it's unclear whether officials were communicating with residents in other ways before then. Whether emergency alerts around that time would have been received on all phones is unclear. Spotty cell service or none at all is not uncommon in parts of the county, northwest of San Antonio. Others may not have had their phones with them, like the young girls who were staying at Camp Mystic in the unincorporated community of Hunt, where officials say at least 27 campers and staff members died. Federal Emergency Management Agency records obtained by NBC Dallas-Fort Worth show that Kerr County officials didn't use its Integrated Public Alert & Warning System, or IPAWS, to send warnings with safety instructions to all cellphones in the affected area the day of the flooding. As the water began rising in Kerr County, the National Weather Service delivered an IPAWS flood warning to phones as early as 1:14 a.m., NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reported. However, it's up to county or city officials in general to send more urgent instructions, including whether to evacuate. Some families said they received a CodeRed alert from Kerr County, which is similar to an IPAWS message and can be sent via the sheriff's office. But the program allows people to opt out, meaning not everyone receives it. Dispatch audio obtained by NBC affiliate KXAN in Austin includes an Ingram volunteer firefighter asking a county sheriff dispatcher at 4:22 a.m. if they can 'send a CodeRed out to our Hunt residents, asking them to find higher ground or stay home?' The dispatcher responds: 'We have to get that approved with our supervisor.' It's unclear at what times CodeRed alerts were supposed to be sent. KXAN reported that one person near the flooded area said they received a voicemail at 1:14 a.m. from a number traced back to CodeRed, while another area resident received a CodeRed alert at 5:34 a.m. about the National Weather Service's 'flash flood warning,' suggesting inconsistencies among recipients countywide. The National Weather Service's San Antonio office did not immediately return a request for comment Friday about any communications it may have had with Kerr County. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a news conference Wednesday that his priority remains search and rescue efforts, but noted there would be an 'after-action' review of what happened on July 4. 'We'll get them,' Leitha said. 'I can't tell you when — in a week or two, OK? We're going to get them.' Raymond Howard, a council member in Ingram, another city in Kerr County, said he has a host of questions for county officials to investigate once the rescue efforts are exhausted, from preventative measures they plan to take going forward to the timing of emergency alerts. 'I did not get a CodeRed,' Howard said, 'and I'm signed up for CodeRed.' What's needed for the future, he said, is better planning and communication. 'It's too late for the victims and everything that's happened already, but for future floods, we can do something,' Howard said. 'It will happen again.'
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
10 Indian-origin people who have been part of NASA and its programmes
Image credit: X As India's space program grows stronger with ISRO 's steady achievements, Indians and people of Indian-origin are also making their mark at NASA . From flying missions to leading important research in orbit and on Earth, they have played key roles in many of NASA's major projects. Here's a look at 10 Indian and Indian-origin professionals who have helped shape NASA's success. Kalpana Chawla Kalpana Chawla, an astronaut at NASA, made history in 1997 as the first woman of Indian origin to travel to space. She flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-87) and again on its final mission (STS-107) in 2003, when the shuttle tragically broke apart during re-entry. Even after her heartbreaking loss, Chawla's legacy continues to inspire students across India and around the world. Sunita Williams Sunita (Suni) L. Williams is a NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy officer of Indian-Slovenian origin who has had a remarkable career in space. Picked by NASA in 1998, she has flown on three missions– Expeditions 14/15, 32/33, and 71/72– and spent 608 days in space. She also holds the record for most spacewalk time by a female astronaut at 62 hours and 6 minutes. In June 2024, she led Boeing's Starliner crewed test flight and, after some technical issues, stayed on the International Space Station before returning home on SpaceX's Crew-9 Dragon in March 2025. Dr. Sharmila Bhattacharya Dr. Bhattacharya, a senior researcher at NASA's Ames Research Centre, is a leading scientist who heads the Space Biosciences division. Her work explores how spaceflight impacts biological systems, particularly immune responses and the effects of radiation, providing critical insights for long-duration human missions. Manisha Ganeshan Dr. Ganeshan studies the planetary boundary layer (PBL) in polar regions using satellite and on-site data. With 10 years of experience using GNSS RO satellites, she provides important data that NASA relies on. Named a Fellow of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) in 2017, she also works with NASA Goddard's Global Modeling and Data Assimilation office to improve GEOS models and help predict Polar Lows and tropical cyclones. Swarupa Nune With a background in visual storytelling, Swarupa Nune is a video producer at NASA Goddard who brings climate science and space exploration to life. She has created multimedia features and unique projects, including orchestral collaborations that pair NASA satellite imagery with classical music, helping audiences connect with complex science in creative, engaging ways. Mamta Patel Nagaraja Mamta's career at NASA bridges technical expertise and public outreach. Now serving as Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Research at NASA Headquarters, she began her career as an engineer, supporting lunar and planetary missions before moving into leadership and communication roles that help connect NASA's work with a wider audience. Narayanan Ramachandran Ramachandran, a seasoned aerospace engineer at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Centre, supports Jacobs Technology and plays a key role in the Space Launch System (SLS), with a particular focus on diffuser velocity testing for engine systems. Raja Chari Born to an Indian father and raised in Iowa, Raja Chari is an astronaut at NASA who was selected in 2017. In 2021–22, he commanded SpaceX Crew-3 and spent over 170 days aboard the ISS, and he's also part of NASA's Artemis Team, training for future Moon missions. Dr. Kamlesh Lulla Dr. Lulla is a veteran Earth scientist at NASA Johnson Space Centre who has built a long career as Chief Scientist for Earth Observations. Known for his expertise in remote sensing, he has advanced space-based land-use research and helped shape tools for disaster management and environmental monitoring. Dr. Ashwin Vasavada Dr. Vasavada is a planetary scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Project Scientist for the Curiosity Mars Rover. He has led key operations studying Mars' climate and geology, helping scientists better understand the planet's history and its potential to have supported life in the past.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Black Astronaut Made Space History in 1995. Now He's Getting Inducted into Hall of Fame (Exclusive)
Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. is being inducted into NASA's Astronaut Hall of Fame on Friday, May 31 He made history in 1995, becoming the first Black astronaut to perform a spacewalk "To be part of the foundation for what we're doing in space now is really fulfilling," he tells PEOPLEDr. Bernard Harris Jr. grew up in Texas as NASA was developing and always had an interest in science – but once he watched man land on the moon, even at 13, he began to have astronaut dreams. 'I knew what I wanted to do,' he tells PEOPLE. 'I wanted to follow the footsteps of these great men, human beings, that had done something for the very first time in human history.' That's exactly what he did. Now Harris — who became the first Black person to perform a spacewalk and recently released his second book, Embracing Infinite Possibilities — will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 31. Before going to college at the University of Houston, Harris, now 68, tells PEOPLE he realized he wanted to become a doctor so he could practice medicine on Earth – and in space. Following his residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Harris pursued a fellowship in endocrinology because he was 'advised to find the most critical aspect of humans in space that needed to be solved' — and one of those is bone loss. (Astronauts lose 1% of bone per month in space, he says.) By 1990, Harris applied and spent a year of astronaut basic training. About three weeks later, he was assigned to his first mission: the STS-55 on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1993. During that trip, Harris says he did the first medical examination in space and even the first intravenous line. 'It was only natural for me to say, 'Okay, if we're going to be in space for long periods of time, how do we ensure that humans can survive up there?' " he recalls. For his second mission, STS-63 on Space Shuttle Discovery in 1995, Harris completed his historic spacewalk. That mission was also notable because Eileen Collins made history as the first female space commander. 'To be part of the foundation for what we're doing in space now is really fulfilling,' he says, adding that he loves to see younger astronauts taking over – and having longer stays in space. Speaking of those longer stays, although the International Space Station wasn't built during his career as an astronaut, some of the devices that crews use today were originally developed in his laboratory. After his two space missions — which included logging 438 hours and traveling over 7.2 million miles — he ventured into philanthropy with the launch of his nonprofit, which supports youth programs in math and science education and crime prevention. Then it was time to go after his dream of becoming an entrepreneur – and his work has always been a bit ahead of the curve. As CEO and managing partner of Vesalius Ventures, Harris focused on telemedicine before many even knew how that would work and was previously hired by Spacehab (now the Astrotech Corporation), one of the first commercial private space companies. 'That was way ahead of SpaceX and Blue Origin, and what we're doing now," he adds. As for the future of space tourism and where he believes the space program is headed, Harris says he continues to be excited that there are more avenues to get to space. 'There'll be tremendous opportunities on the moon. And I think that when we then take that bigger leap to go to Mars,' he believes. He ultimately sees the continued progress as a way to unify. 'When I was out on my spacewalk," he says, 'looking back at the earth, [I realized] how important this spaceship that we live on planet Earth is to us all. From that distance, you can't see the divisions that divide us here on earth. And my hope is that space will be an opportunity for us to come together as a people." Embracing Infinite Possibilities is out now. You can purchase it here. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bernardston Elementary celebrates planting of NASA ‘Moon Tree' with former astronaut
BERNARDSTON — Bernardston Elementary School students and staff can now say they have a little piece of space in their schoolyard. On Tuesday, elementary school staff and students, accompanied by special guest and former NASA astronaut Catherine 'Cady' Coleman, celebrated the planting of an official NASA Artemis 'Moon Tree.' The Moon Tree initiative, an official partnership between NASA's Office of STEM Engagement and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Services, is a nod to the 1971 Apollo 14 mission, in which astronaut Stuart Roosa and a former U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Services smokejumper carried tree seeds into orbit. Upon return to Earth, those seeds were grown into seedlings and eventually distributed to national monuments and dignitaries around the world. Now, what the NASA website describes as a 'new generation' of Moon Trees — five species of tree seeds that traveled aboard the Orion spacecraft in 2022 before returning to Earth — are being planted in their new homes at K-through-12 schools, museums and universities across the country. It wasn't just a matter of signing up, however. The NASA Moon Tree program requires a competitive application process and received more than 1,000 submissions. Bernardston's application was spearheaded by one of its own students. 'I wanted a tree that would be here for generations,' said Amy VanDoren, formerly a sixth grade student at the school, in a statement. She's now a seventh grader at Pioneer Valley Regional School. 'It's not just a tree. It's a story we get to be a part of.' The tree that Bernardston Elementary School received is a sweetgum, which, when matured, can grow to be over 100 feet tall, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services. The NASA's national STEM initiative aims to introduce youth to the importance of conservation and the wonders of space. To further that purpose, the school welcomed Coleman as a guest speaker. Coleman has Massachusetts ties, having received her doctorate in polymer science and engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1971. She joined the NASA astronaut corps in 1992 and, according to NASA's website, logged more than 4,330 hours in space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia and the International Space Station. 'Never give up on your education. Make sure to take care of your future self. There's no such thing as wasted time,' Coleman said in an interview with The Republican in 2020. The public can visit Bernardston Elementary School's Moon Tree on the school grounds at 37 School Road, anytime outside of school hours. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Brunswick teacher takes student experiments on Zero-G flight
May 27—Middle schoolers at St. John's Catholic School in Brunswick watched their teacher — and their own experiments — soar aboard a zero-gravity flight earlier this month. Science teacher Karin Paquin was one of eight teachers chosen to fly on a Zero-G plane with the Space for Teachers Embedded Teachers Program. Her most recent flight — which took off from Salina, Kansas, on May 7 — comes amid ongoing efforts to expand space education at the Brunswick Catholic school. Paquin's eighth-grade students worked with the Romero-Calvo Lab at Georgia Institute of Technology to design a "passive phase separation experiment," which tests how air and water separate in microgravity, according to a news release from the school. Her seventh graders sent up a CubeSat — a small satellite — to investigate the effects of microgravity on ambient sound to understand whether researchers aboard Zero-G flights should wear hearing protection. "It was very difficult, but it was worth the long hours of brainstorming, building, testing, modifying and retesting," eighth grader Joseph Stratman said. "Knowing it really worked and could impact microfluids in space makes every minute worth it." Zero-G planes, or reduced-gravity aircraft, simulate the feeling of weightlessness by flying in a parabolic pattern. Such flights are used for astronaut training, research and tourism. Paquin rode alongside other teachers, high school students and retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, who flew twice on the Space Shuttle Columbia and spent nearly six months living on the International Space Station. "When I think back on this past year working with Space for Teachers, my students and some incredible collaborators at Georgia Tech, one word comes to mind: transformation," Paquin said. "Throughout the year, my students were challenged in ways they never expected — especially at the middle-school level. But every step of the way, I believed in them. And behind the scenes, supporting me, were the incredible mentors at Space for Teachers who believed in me." This wasn't Paquin's first experience in microgravity; she also flew with students' experiments on a Zero-G flight in 2022 as a part of the Teachers in Space Human Flight Program. "All of a sudden, you just feel weightless," Paquin recalled in an April interview with The Times Record. Students got to watch Paquin from the Zero-G hangar and onboard the aircraft via livestream on May 7. Paquin's science classes over the years have had several experiments onboard space flights, thanks to organizations like Space for Teachers and Teachers in Space. Just last month, another CubeSat designed by St. John's students flew aboard the all-female Blue Origin rocket flight. The St. John's "Launch Lab" allows students to "engage in high-level science with real-world applications," the school said. "The most amazing thing about this program is that not only were my students learning, but so was I," Paquin said. "I was growing into a better teacher, a stronger colleague and a more reflective person because of the opportunities Space for Teachers provided." Copy the Story Link
