White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had to explain to Hearst Television White House correspondent Kalyn Norwood on Monday why Texas flood alerts were sent “while people were likely sleeping.”

Flash floods have devastated areas across six counties in Texas since Friday, leading to the deaths of 90 people and several children attending an all-girls Christian camp. The press secretary said that the proper agencies sent out flash flood warnings in a “timely” and appropriate manner, and that the timing of the flood was out of the administration’s control.

“Knowing that [the alerts] did go out, but the warnings [were] coming out in the early hours, so while many people were likely sleeping,” Norwood began. “Can you share just details [about] what you know why those alerts were sent out while people were likely sleeping and then what the administration is doing that these alerts come out sooner.”

“Well, the alerts were imminently sent out before the flood when people were sleeping because the flood hit in the very early hours of the morning,” Leavitt said. “So, people were sleeping in the middle of the night when this flood came. That was an act of God, that was not the administration’s fault that the flood hit when it did.”

The press secretary read through the timeline of the several flash flood warnings issued days and hours before the floods hit the affected areas. (Read more from “Leavitt Looks Baffled After Reporter Asks Why Texas Flood Alerts Were Sent ‘While People Were Likely Sleeping’” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr