Two major climate disasters of 2025 — the Texas flooding that killed more than 100 people and the L.A. wildfires in January that resulted in 30 deaths and wiped out more than 15,000 homes and businesses — highlight the struggles officials face in fully preparing for extreme weather conditions. In both cases, the National Weather Service offered clear warnings of potentially life-threatening weather events; in Los Angeles, warnings were given days before extraordinary winds — of up to 100 mph — slammed a region already suffering from a record-dry fall. … Since then, there have been calls for sweeping reforms of how Los Angeles County prepares for disasters, and investigations into what went wrong. … With climate change bringing more extreme deadly weather, local emergency management officials around the nation are trying to keep up.

Other flood risk and emergency management news around the West:

• AP News: The US faces more frequent extreme weather events, but attitudes and actions aren’t keeping up
• Manteca Bulletin (Calif.): Opinion: Note to Newsom on presidential campaign trail: Texas-style flooding is clear threat in California​
• KJCT (Grand Junction, Colo.): Is Western Colorado at risk for major flooding? A look back at major Colorado floods
• CBS Colorado: Colorado is heading into prime time for flash flooding events; North American Monsoon season is underway
• Western Water Notes: Blog: Monsoon season