Texas Vigil, Flood Danger Zones, Ukraine Air Defenses

Summary

Up First from NPR: Texas Vigil, Flood Danger Zones, Ukraine Air Defenses Release Date: July 10, 2025

NPR's Up First delivers the most important news of the day in a concise, engaging format. In this episode, hosts Amy Martinez, Michelle Martin, and Lucio Vazquez delve into the tragic flash floods in Texas, the shortcomings of FEMA's flood risk mapping, the escalating airstrikes in Ukraine, and a concerning rise in measles cases in the United States. This comprehensive summary captures all key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

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1. Texas Vigil Honors Flood Victims

The episode opens with a heartfelt account of a vigil held in Kerrville, Texas, to mourn the lives lost in last week's devastating flash floods.

• Gathering and Atmosphere

  Amy Martinez sets the scene: "Mourners in Kerrville, Texas, held a vigil for those who died in last week's flash floods" at [00:02]. The vigil took place in the football stadium at Tyvee High School, where hundreds of community members came together to remember the deceased and those still missing.

• Personal Tributes

  Michelle Martin describes the emotional atmosphere: "It was a moment to just pause, catch our breath" [00:07]. Many attendees wore green ribbons, symbolizing their connection to Camp Mystic, the Christian girls' summer camp where numerous lives were lost. Randy Rose, present at the vigil, emphasized the tight-knit nature of the community, stating, "Any loss is really felt by everyone here" [02:35].

• Community Healing

  The vigil served as a time for the community to seek normalcy amidst tragedy. Michelle Martin recounts scenes of children playing and people embracing: "Kids were running around the football field... people said that they felt lighter after being there" [03:10]. This collective grieving and support highlighted the resilience of Kerrville's residents.

2. FEMA's Incomplete Flood Risk Mapping Raises Concerns

Following the tragedy, questions arose about the preparedness and warning systems in place, particularly regarding FEMA's flood risk assessments.

• Official Response and Investigation

  Lucio Vazquez reports skepticism towards officials' claims of no negligence: "Some Texas officials are challenging the idea that anyone is to blame for the deadly floods" [00:14]. An NPR investigation revealed that flood risks in the area were long-standing and not adequately communicated.

• Discrepancies in Flood Maps

  Randy Rose, an NPR investigative correspondent, exposed significant gaps in FEMA's flood maps: "FEMA's flood maps did not include much of the camp that was at risk" [06:27]. Comparatively, private companies like First Street found that actual flood risks were twice as high as FEMA reported. For instance, in Kerr County, FEMA indicated 2,500 homes were at risk, while First Street identified nearly 4,500 [06:27].

• Impact on Camp Mystic

  Camp Mystic was situated in a highly vulnerable floodway area. Randy Rose detailed the specific risks: "The camp had eight structures in the floodway, including cabins housing some of the youngest campers" [08:13]. Despite county regulations prohibiting development in such areas, several high-risk cabins were still present, exacerbating the tragedy.

• Call for Legislative Action

  In response to the shortcomings, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has prioritized improving early warning systems. He announced a special legislative session aimed at funding enhancements for flood-prone regions [05:06]. However, skepticism remains about whether these measures will effectively prevent future disasters.

3. Escalating Russian Airstrikes in Ukraine

The podcast shifts focus to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, highlighting the intensifying Russian airstrikes and their devastating impact on Kyiv.

• Current Situation in Kyiv

  Joanna Kakisis in Kyiv describes a night marked by relentless drone attacks: "We heard a number of these Iranian designed attack drones... the sound of Ukrainian air defense units trying to shoot down the drones" [09:53]. The airstrikes resulted in fires, casualties, and significant damage to infrastructure, including apartment buildings and healthcare facilities [10:31].

• Russian Strategy and Ukrainian Defense

  Oleksandr Ustinova, chair of the Ukrainian Parliament's Committee on Arms Control, explains Russia's intensified attacks: "Russia has been stepping up drone and missile attacks since March" [10:35]. These efforts aim to overwhelm Ukraine's air defenses, a tactic putting immense pressure on the country's defensive capabilities [11:05].

• International Support and Challenges

  The Ukrainian defense heavily relies on Western support, particularly in securing advanced air defense systems. Oleksandr Ustinova emphasizes the critical need for these systems to protect civilians: "Ukraine relies on Western partners, including the United States, to provide systems and munitions that protect from airstrikes" [11:05]. However, the promise of additional aid from the Trump administration remains a point of uncertainty.

• Prospects for Ceasefire

  Despite ongoing hostilities, efforts towards a ceasefire appear stagnant. Oleksandr Ustinova notes the lack of progress from U.S. President Trump in negotiations: "President Trump said he did not make any progress toward a cease fire during a phone call with Putin last week" [12:05]. Analysts suggest that without increased pressure, Putin is unlikely to alter his stance [12:38].

4. Measles Cases Reach a 30-Year High in the U.S.

The episode also addresses a public health concern: the resurgence of measles in the United States, marking the highest number of cases in over three decades.

• Rising Cases and Public Health Warning

  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 1,288 measles cases reported this year, the highest since the disease was eliminated in 2000 [13:03]. Caitlin Rivers from Johns Hopkins underscores the preventable nature of measles and the frustration over its resurgence: "It's preventable. And so we really hate to see this resurgence of a preventable virus" [13:38].

• Vaccination Rates and Community Risk

  The spike in measles cases is largely attributed to declining vaccination rates. The CDC highlights that a 95% vaccination rate is necessary to prevent outbreaks, yet national kindergarten vaccination rates are currently just under 93%, with some communities falling significantly below this threshold [13:44]. This shortfall compromises herd immunity and facilitates the spread of the highly infectious virus.

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Conclusion

This episode of Up First provides a comprehensive overview of pressing issues affecting communities both domestically and internationally. From the heart-wrenching aftermath of Texas floods and the critical evaluation of FEMA's preparedness to the relentless conflict in Ukraine and the alarming rise in measles cases, the podcast underscores the importance of effective governance, community resilience, and public health initiatives. Through detailed reporting and insightful analysis, NPR continues to inform listeners with the news they need to start their day.

Transcript

[Amy Martinez]

Mourners in Kerrville, Texas, held a vigil for those who died in last week's flash floods.

[Michelle Martin]

It was a moment to just pause, catch our breath.

[Lucio Vazquez]

Some wore green ribbons, the official color of the girls summer camp where many lives were lost.

[Amy Martinez]

I'm Amy Martinez with Michelle Martin and this is up first from NPR News. Some Texas officials are challenging the idea that anyone is to blame for the deadly floods.

[Michelle Martin]

We had no reason to believe that this was going to be anything like what's happened here. None whatsoever.

[Amy Martinez]

But an NPR investigation, investigation found a long standing risk from flooding in the area. What exactly was known?

[Lucio Vazquez]

And another night of massive Russian airstrikes inside Ukraine has caused fires across the capital city of Kyiv. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

[Laura Sullivan]

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[Lucio Vazquez]

Last night, hundreds of mourners gathered in a football stadium at Tyvee High School in Kerrville, Texas.

[Amy Martinez]

They came together to remember those who died in last week's flash floods that have killed at least 120 people. It was was also a vigil for the many more who are still missing.

[Lucio Vazquez]

The Texas newsroom's Lucio Vazquez joins us now from Kerrville to tell us more about all this. Good morning, Lucio.

[Michelle Martin]

Good morning.

[Lucio Vazquez]

So just paint a picture for me if you would Tell us about the gathering at the high school last night.

[Michelle Martin]

Yeah. Well, organizers held a large cross in front of the bleachers, which were filled with grieving neighbors. They prayed together, they sang, remembering those that they had lost. The vigil also included a tribute to Camp Mystic. It's a Christian girls summer camp here in the area that became the heart of one of the deadliest natural disasters in Texas history. Many in attendance were also wearing green ribbons. That's the official color of the camp. Randy Rose was also at the vigil. He told me that this is a pretty tight knit community, that any loss is really felt by everyone here. It was a time of healing.

[Lucio Vazquez]

It was a time of trying to.

[Michelle Martin]

Get back to some normalcy and step away from the tragedy for a minute. It was a moment to just pause, catch our breath and remember that there's still light and goodness, you know, Many stayed after the vigil ended. Kids were running around the football field, balls were being tossed back and forth, and there were a lot of hugs. And so people said that they felt lighter after being there.

[Lucio Vazquez]

Oh, that's good to hear. And you've also been talking with people who were in the path of the river who of course, now are trying to put their lives back together. So just tell us a little bit about what they told you.

[Michelle Martin]

Yeah, there's just been an overwhelming sense of disbelief and exhaustion. I spoke with another man. His name is John cox. He's a 77 year old man who's been here for a few years. He has a house just down the road. And he told me that he's never seen anything quite like this, that his place was almost completely submerged by the river when it crested. Flood got in the house.

[Amy Martinez]

You know, you can see the mattresses out there.

[Michelle Martin]

Ruined all of the furniture in the house. He's been cleaning for days now, filling a nearby dumpster. But despite losing most of his home, he actually says he's grateful for the help he's received from the community and from volunteers who've come into town after the floods. And the response has been striking. I've seen what looks to be an army of volunteers and public safety agencies setting up shop throughout the region to help search for victims and jumpstart recovery efforts.

[Lucio Vazquez]

I think that people are starting to look at their state and local officials and ask them, you know, talk about the lack of preparedness and in some places, people not getting warnings in time. Is this being addressed?

[Michelle Martin]

Yes. You know, that's what locals have been telling the Texas newsroom that they didn't get sufficient warnings or that they never got an alert at all. And there's been a lot of questions and people want to know what exactly happened at yesterday's press conference here in Kerr County. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leether he said that officials would be investigating when or.

[Lucio Vazquez]

If necessary if improvements need to be made. Improvements will be made.

[Michelle Martin]

Notably, earlier this spring, state lawmakers voted down a bill that would have provided more money for communications and warning systems during natural disasters. But now Texas Governor Greg Abbott says fixing that is a priority. So yesterday he called for a special session of the state legislature for later this month, and he wants lawmakers to pass a new bill that would provide funding to improve early warning systems and other preparedness infrastructure in flood prone areas across Texas. The question for a lot of people here, though, is whether that will prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.

[Lucio Vazquez]

That is the Texas newsroom's Lucio Vasquez. Lucille, thanks so much.

[Michelle Martin]

Thanks for having me.

[Lucio Vazquez]

In the days following those deadly floods in Texas, some officials challenged the idea that there is anyone or anything to blame.

[Amy Martinez]

The chief elected official of Kerr County, Rob Kelly, said there was no way to predict the that kind of flood was coming.

[Joanna Kakisis]

We had no reason to believe that.

[Michelle Martin]

This was going to be anything like what's happened here. None whatsoever.

[Lucio Vazquez]

But NPR investigative correspondent Laura Sullivan has been looking into just what was known about the flood danger at the camp, and she's with us now to tell us what she's found out. Good morning, Laura.

[Randy Rose]

Good morning.

[Lucio Vazquez]

So I think, as everybody's seen by now, Camp mystic is on the banks of the Guadalupe River. It has flooded before, but what exactly was known from the flood maps about the area that its buildings and the cabins were in?

[Randy Rose]

So we found there is significantly more risk in the area than the federal government has reported. You know, FEMA's flood maps tell Americans where the agency believes water is likely to come, but their maps did not include much of the camp that was at risk. We found at least 17 buildings and cabins had a flood risk that FEMA failed to report. Now, companies that model climate risk like first street in New York have been making new maps and the differences are pretty stark. For example, in Kerr county, where the camp FEMA says about 2,500 homes had a danger. First street found the real number is something closer to 4,500 homes. And this is true nationwide, more than twice as many Americans live in dangerous flood areas compared to what the government is reporting or telling them.

[Lucio Vazquez]

So 2,500 homes in FEMA's report versus 4,500 homes in the First street report. That's a big difference. Why is the data so different when it comes to these private data companies?

[Randy Rose]

FEMA is not mapping rainfall or flash flooding. Their maps are based on historic data from tidal surges and large river flooding, which is a problem in a new climate world where much of the danger that we're seeing from these storms is coming from these large rainfall events. FEMA does have the scientists who can do this, but what they don't have is a mandate or funding from Congress. A lot of politicians don't want to raise insurance rates. And also we did an investigation earlier this year with PBS Frontline and found special interest groups like home builders associations have lobbied to keep maps from being updated. You know, they're saying they're trying to keep homes affordable.

[Lucio Vazquez]

So for the parts of the camp that were in FEMA's maps where maybe they could at least learn of the risk, what did that danger look like?

[Randy Rose]

So the most dangerous area in a FEMA flood map is what's called a floodway. It's where the water is supposed to go. You know, think of the banks of a river right in a flood. It's where the water is at its highest depth. It's sort of its highest velocity. And our analys showed the camp had eight structures that were in this area. And some of them may have been built long ago, but at least four of the structures were cabins that housed some of their youngest campers. And the county did make changes to its flood rules five years ago that largely prohibit development in this kind of area. And that's true nationwide as well, but that was obviously too late to help the campers here. The camp also built a new section a few years ago a little bit farther down the river. And we found many of those cabins showing up in high risk areas as well when using the new data.

[Lucio Vazquez]

That's NPR's Laura Sullivan. Laura, thank you.

[Randy Rose]

Thanks so.

[Michelle Martin]

Much.

[Amy Martinez]

Another night of Russian airstrikes on Kyiv has caused fires across the city, killing at least two people and injuring more than a dozen. The Trump administration says it has started sending weapons to Ukraine again. Russia is intensifying its attacks and the Kremlin continues to ignore calls for a ceasefire. Joining us to discuss all this is NPR's Joanna Kakisis in Kyiv. And a warning. We will hear explosions during this conversation. Joanna. So tell us about the latest attacks where you are in Kyiv.

[Oleksandr Ustinova]

Well, a, it was another very loud and pretty scary night here. We heard a number of these Iranian designed attack drones flying over our neighborhood Buzzing. They sound like, you know, fleets of lawnmowers or mopeds. And then the sound of Ukrainian air defense units trying to shoot down the drones as well as ballistic missiles. It's shocking. But these sounds have become familiar. They're like part of life here right now. And at one point, we heard like an hour of almost continuous explosions. The airstrikes caused lots of fires and damage, hitting apartment buildings, gas stations, a health care center here in Kyiv, lots of places.

[Amy Martinez]

Yeah. Why is Russia launching so many airstrikes right now?

[Oleksandr Ustinova]

You would think it might have something to do. It might be connected to President Trump saying he will send more defensive aid to Ukraine. I mean, just a couple of days ago, Russia launched nearly 730 drones at Ukraine. That's like a record. But actually, Russia has been stepping up drone and missile attacks since March. That's when Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the United States. Russia never signed on to that ceasefire.

[Amy Martinez]

So how close are these airstrikes to overwhelming Ukraine's air defense? It sounds like it's just a lot to handle right now.

[Oleksandr Ustinova]

Yeah, yeah. Ukraine's military says that's exactly what Russia is trying to do by sending hundreds of drones all at once. It's a challenge to shoot down so many. And at some point, Ukraine is going to run out of air defense munitions. I spoke to lawmaker Oleksandr Ustinova about this strategy. She chairs the Ukrainian Parliament's Committee on Arms Control, and she said Russian President Vladimir Putin has faced failed to make significant progress on the battlefield. That's why his new strategy is to threaten the civilian population and to kill as many civilians as he can. And in this case, the number one priority for us is the air defense. And the number one priority, I think, for our partners should be protecting the civilian population and our children. So Suneva says Ukraine relies on Western partners, including the United States, to provide systems and munitions that protect from airstrikes. Russia has also intensified its attacks on the 1000 mile front line where Ukraine army is spread very, very thin. So there's a lot resting on President Trump's promise to send additional air defense weapons to Ukraine.

[Amy Martinez]

Any hope for a cease fire at this point?

[Oleksandr Ustinova]

Well, you know, President Trump said he did not make any progress toward a cease fire during a phone call with Putin last week. And this week, he made some scathing statements about the Russian leader, saying Putin is, quote, not treating human beings right and is, quote, killing too many people in the war. But so far, the White House has not imposed any additional sanctions on Russia or tried to force Putin and the Kremlin to toward a ceasefire. I spoke about this with Phillips o'. Brien. He is a professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

[Laura Sullivan]

I think as long as Putin believes the war is trending in his direction.

[Michelle Martin]

And Trump is totally uninclined to put.

[Laura Sullivan]

Any pressure on him, then I think Putin will keep fighting as long as.

[Lucio Vazquez]

He thinks the war is going in his direction.

[Oleksandr Ustinova]

So right now, Ukrainians are waiting to see if the Trump administration actually follows through on promises to provide defensive weapons, and they are hoping Congress will approve new U.S. sanctions on Russia.

[Amy Martinez]

All right. That's NPR's Joanna Kakisses. Joanna, thank you.

[Oleksandr Ustinova]

You're welcome.

[Lucio Vazquez]

The U.S. has reported 1,288 measles cases this year.

[Amy Martinez]

Yeah. That's according to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it's the highest number of cases in over 30 years. Caitlin Rivers is the director of the center for Outbreak Response Innovation at Johns Hopkins. She says it's upsetting. See the increased spread of measles, which is one of the most infectious diseases.

[Laura Sullivan]

And more importantly, it's preventable. And so we really hate to see this resurgence of a preventable virus.

[Lucio Vazquez]

The vast majority of people who've been infected this year were unvaccinated. And here's how it breaks down. The CDC says you need a vaccination rate of 95% in order to prevent outbreaks in a community. But across the US Kindergarten vaccination rates against measles have been falling for years. They are currently at just under 93% nationally. And in some communities, communities they're much lower. And that's up for us for Thursday, July 10th.

[Amy Martinez]

I'm Michelle Martin and Amy Martinez. How about listening to CONSIDER THIS from npr? We here at up first give you three big stories of the day at Consider this, they take a different approach. They go deep into a single news story and what it means to you. That means that you can learn what you need to know about a big story of the day in less than 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get those podcasts.

[Lucio Vazquez]

Today's episode of up first was edited by Alfredo Carbajal, Barry Hardiman, Jane Greenholsh, Janaya Williams and Jan Johnson. It was produced by Ziad Buch, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacy Abbott. And our technical director is Zach Coleman. We hope you'll join us again tomorrow.

[Joanna Kakisis]

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[Laura Sullivan]

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