Experts said the NWS did a good job warning about the flooding, but questions remain about whether the cuts played a role.

Chuck Schumer asked acting Inspector General Roderick Anderson to investigate if recent NWS staff cuts had an impact on the death toll from the Texas floods.

"A lot of the weather forecast offices now are not operating at full complement of staff," said the former lead of NOAA.

Catastrophic flooding struck central Texas on Friday as the Guadalupe River surged by more than 20 to 26 feet within 90 minutes, causing widespread devastation and forcing mass evacuations in Texas Hill Country. At least 80 people have been killed in the floods while others remain missing or displaced and more than 850 people required rescuing.

Emergency responders continue to search for missing people, including at least 10 girls who were attending a summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River.