Two massive disasters this year — the Texas floods and Los Angeles firestorms — are leading some to grapple with the question of how to get officials and the public to care and take action.

A flash flood warning was in effect in New York City until 9:45 p.m., and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency. Middlesex, Morris and Somerset counties remained under a flood warning until 7:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Laredo is no longer under a flood warning, but the Rio Grande continues to rise after days of upstream rain, according to the National Weather Service.

When the National Weather Service Office issues a flood watch, or a flash flood watch, the forecast has the potential for rainfall of one inch per hour or repeatedly over a span of a few or many hours. These locations indicated by the watch should be aware of their locations and surroundings regarding the flooding potential.

Flood warnings have also been issued along the Frio River, which is "forecast to reach major flood stage" on July 14

New York and New Jersey hit by torrential rain and flash floods, forcing highway closures, suspending subway lines and flight delays.

HUNT, Texas - Family members now say they don’t believe the director of Camp Mystic received an urgent weather warning the morning of the Hill Country flood.A s

On Friday, 17 million people are under flood alerts across the Gulf Coast and in the mid-Atlantic, and 19 million are under heat alerts across the mid-Atlantic, southern Florida and Mississippi Valley.

Flash flood warnings were issued for Putnam-Kanawha and Lincoln-Boone for these torrents. Reports of high water along tributaries of the Coal River showed water onto Smith Creek and Big Coal Fork roads. These minor high water events prompt me to add a cautionary tone to tonight’s event.

County officials did not issue a locally targeted emergency alert to warn people in town of the rapidly rising waters until two days after the deadly flood, according to Federal Emergency