As early as July 2, officials at the Texas Division of Emergency Management, or TDEM, were publishing news releases warning that “heavy rainfall with the potential to cause flash flooding is anticipated across West Texas and the Hill Country” and readying resources, such as swift-water rescue boat squads.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott expanded the state’s disaster declaration to include six more counties after widespread flooding and storm damage. Officials confirmed 32 people have died, 14 of them children,