Multiple urban search and rescue teams from across the country that responded to the deadly floods in central Texas told CNN they were not deployed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency until at least Monday evening — days after any victim had been found alive.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called on Wednesday for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be eliminated in its current form, even as the disaster-relief agency deployed specialists and supplies to Texas to help respond to devastating floods.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency did not answer thousands of calls made to its disaster assistance line after deadly flooding in Texas, documents reviewed by the New York Times show. A person "briefed on the matter" who spoke to the Times anonymously said this was because the agency fired hundreds of contractors at call