As communities across Central Texas reel from the deadly floods that devastated Kerrville and surrounding Hill Country towns, Fox 29 Chief Meteoro

At least 120 people have been found dead since heavy rainfall overwhelmed the river and flowed through homes and youth camps in the early morning hours of July 4. Ninety-six of those killed were in the hardest-hit county in central Texas, Kerr County, where the toll includes at least 36 children.

Weather warnings predicted devastation from both the Texas floods and Hurricane Helene. But in both disasters, people were left in harm’s way.

The state leaves building zoning and permits up to the individual counties. And in most non-city counties, such as Kerr, which had 96 deaths as of Thursday due to floods, some officials tend to be lenient towards building owners with restrictions, some state leaders and environmental experts told ABC News.

Emergency managers in the Northland on Tuesday met with the National Weather Service to strengthen their working relationships in the wake of the Kerrville, Texas, disaster​.

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.

MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas — The recent flash flooding that devastated parts of Central Texas has left communities on edge, and officials in Midland County are working proactively to prevent similar destruction in their area.

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.

The Texas House and Senate will appoint a nine-person select committee to look at disaster preparedness and the recent flooding across Central Texas.

Trump’s trip to Texas is a chance for Trump to tout the local search and rescue teams, “in a show of solidarity aimed at quelling criticism and emphasizing the White House’s close coordination with Texas officials,