After hours of waiting and praying in the attic, the water stopped rising and the family was rescued. A first responder helped Matteson, wearing a navy and pink floral dress and quilted white jacket, into the back of a car. Her family survived. Their home was not so lucky.

Would a flood scale like those used for hurricanes and tornadoes have prompted different actions by Texas officals and the public before July 4th flooding?

Texas on Saturday faces an upper-atmosphere wave of low pressure that could trigger storms and an increasingly deep flow of Gulf moisture.

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.

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