At least 120 people have been killed and 173 are still missing as Texas officials deflect questions over the state’s response to the catastrophic flash floods. Kerr County remains at the center of the disaster after the Guadalupe River burst its banks on Friday.

Kerr County had discussed buying such things as water gauges and sirens after previous flood disasters. But as with many rural Texas counties, cost was an issue.

When too much rain falls for the ground to absorb, it runs downhill, pulled by gravity into streams, creeks and rivers.

Only about half of the homeowners potentially impacted by floods in Kerr County were in FEMA's flood zones, and even fewer likely had flood insurance.