KERRVILLE, TEXAS — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is under intense fire following her agency’s delayed response to the deadly Texas floods earlier this month — with one local official even ridiculing her as “Homeland Barbie.”
The catastrophic flash floods along the Guadalupe River over the July 4 holiday claimed 137 lives, including at least 36 children. Ninety-six of the fatalities occurred in Kerr County alone. As rescue teams searched for victims, criticism mounted over the federal government’s 72-hour delay in mobilizing aid — a holdup that officials blame on budget cuts and new bureaucratic hurdles under Noem’s leadership.
Ken Pagurek, head of FEMA’s urban search-and-rescue division, resigned in protest over the delays. He pointed to Noem’s “restructuring” of the agency, which included the firing of hundreds of call center contractors and a controversial rule requiring her personal sign-off on grants and contracts over $100,000 — a rule that reportedly slowed the deployment of search teams.
Adding fuel to the controversy, local station KSAT obtained text messages showing some Texas officials privately mocking Noem. After a press conference Noem held on July 5, a local staffer texted Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice: “Just saw you met Homeland Barbie, how is she?!?!?!” Rice replied, “Beahahaha basically homeland Barbie.”
Noem, 53, was previously dubbed “ICE Barbie” by The Daily Beast for frequently staging photo ops in dramatic outfits while posing with border agents or detainees.
When asked for comment, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin dismissed the texts as unprofessional, saying, “Dalton Rice should focus on doing his job and taking care of his community through this horrific situation. Personal attacks undermine our ability to unify and respond to the needs of families in the state of Texas.”
But backlash over Noem’s flood response continues to grow. A New York Times investigation found that FEMA failed to answer nearly two-thirds of emergency calls during the disaster, further highlighting the toll of recent cost-cutting measures.
The Houston Chronicle editorial board compared Noem’s leadership to FEMA’s widely criticized response during Hurricane Katrina. “Leaving disaster victims on hold isn’t governmental efficiency,” the board wrote. “It’s heartless.”
Noem has denied the delays were due to policy changes and dismissed both the New York Times and Chronicle reports. Still, pressure continues to mount as families of victims, first responders, and local officials demand answers — and accountability.
As of Monday, Kerrville’s Joint Information Center told KSAT that emergency personnel remain fully engaged in disaster response and are unavailable for interviews.
