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.

Flood watch in effect through 7 PM Sunday. Locally heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding across portions of south-central Texas. A weak upper-level system combined with above-normal moisture may lead to heavy localized rainfall and rapid runoff.

In what experts call "Flash Flood Alley," the terrain reacts quickly to rainfall steep slopes, rocky ground, and narrow riverbeds leave little time for warning.

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.