Rumors about National Weather Service cuts, cloud seeding, rescues and more spread online following the deadly July 2025 floods in central Texas.

From 1959 to 2019, 1,069 people died in Texas in flooding, which is nearly one-fifth of the total 5,724 flood fatalities in the Lower 48 states in that time, according to a 2021 study in the journal Water.

"It’s hard to believe the devastation," Trump said. "Trees that are 100 years old just ripped out of the ground. I've never seen anything like this, and I've seen a lot of bad ones."

Some governors and mayors are concerned over how current or potential cuts to agencies will impact how the government can respond in the future to major weather events.

A reporter from CBS News Texas asked the president Friday if more lives could've been saved if emergency alerts were issued earlier.

Nearly a week after deadly floods struck Central Texas, search and rescue teams are continuing to probe debris for those still missing.

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

"A lot of the weather forecast offices now are not operating at full complement of staff," said the former lead of NOAA.

As climate change increases the frequency of environmental disasters, experts say federal cuts could leave California and other states vulnerable in the years ahead.

In the wake of the deadly flash floods in Texas, state leaders are exploring whether to install more flood warning sirens. Such sirens can save lives if they're part of a larger warning system.