Texas flooding live: Dead cattle found in trees as search goes on for missing; 'American hero' praised for 'saving 165'
Explained: Why did deadly Texas floods catch people by surprise?
Questions have been raised over extreme weather warnings in Texas after the fatal flooding.
Local and federal officials have been criticised over flood preparations, and why people were not warned of the risks sooner.
Private forecasting company AccuWeather said it and the National Weather Service (NWS) sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before it began, urging people to move to higher ground and evacuate flood-prone areas.
The NWS also issued flash flood emergencies - a rare alert notifying of imminent danger - at 4.23am local time.
In a statement, AccuWeather said that "these warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety".
It also called Texas Hill County one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the US because of its terrain and many water crossings.
However, Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas division of emergency management, said that one NWS forecast earlier in the week had predicted up to six inches of rain.
"It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw," he added.
14:30:01
Cattle and livestock found on top of trees after '26ft wall of water'
The Texas agriculture commissioner says there's been no time to start calculating the damage done to the farm industry during floods.
Sid Miller told Fox News that cattle and livestock have been found "on the tops of trees" following the deadly flooding.
"We've lost hundreds of miles of fencing, barns, all kinds of buildings, structures," he said.
"We are still so focused on search and rescue of the over 40 people that are still unaccounted for, that we haven't even had time to start calculating about the agriculture loss."
"But it's been devastating," he added. "It's a 26ft wall of water, 3am in the morning... caught everybody off guard."
14:00:01
What you need to know
It's just gone 8am in central Texas, where search efforts have moved into a fourth day for dozens of people still missing following flash floods.
If you're just joining us, here's everything you need to know:
Heavy rainfall in the early hours of Friday morning saw water burst from the banks of the Guadalupe River in central Texas;
Water rose more than 26ft (8m) in less than an hour, causing immediate widespread damage;
So far, at least 82 people have been killed - including 27 at a girls' summer camp that saw some of the worst of the flooding;
Among those killed were campers as young as eight, a camp counsellor and the camp's director;
At least 41 people are still missing, including 10 girls from the camp;
Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration yesterday and says he will "probably" visit Texas on Friday;
More heavy rain is expected in the region over the next two days, with flood alerts in place until 7pm local time today.
13:29:08
'We just saw an ocean': 11-year-old recalls campsite flooding 'crisis' before he was rescued
Kaelan Kubena was among the some 400 campers at Camp La Junta, an all-boys summer camp in central Texas, at the time of the flooding.
"We looked outside and we just saw like an ocean out there," the 11-year-old from San Diego told NBC Los Angeles.
Heavy rain kept most of the boys awake early Friday morning, he said, and later camp counsellors took them to higher ground for safety when the camp grounds began to flood.
"We saw like a whole cabin just floating down, and that's when we knew like those things were getting actually real out there.
"We were starting to realise that this was a real natural disaster crisis."
13:10:01
Watch: Moment house swept away by floods
Homes have been washed out and vehicles swept away by the flooding along the Guadalupe River in Texas.
The scenes of destruction continue for miles, with dozens of people still unaccounted for.
12:40:01
Where have people died?
The number of people killed in the floods currently stands at 82, but officials have warned this figure is likely to rise as rescuers work to recover bodies.
Most of the deaths so far have been in Kerr County, where at least 27 people died at Camp Mystic.
Here are the deaths per county:
Kerr: 68
Williamson: 1
Burnet: 4
Tom Green: 1
Travis County: 6
Kendall: 2
12:10:01
Coast Guard rescue swimmer hailed as 'American hero' for helping to save 165 people
A US Coast Guard rescue swimmer has been hailed as a hero for helping to save 165 people from flooding in Texas, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official.
Scott Ruskan was among the Coast Guard members deployed after Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration yesterday.
He was in charge of triage at Camp Mystic, the girls' summer camp that saw some of the worst of the flooding.
"He is an American hero whose selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the USCG," DHS said.
It was the first rescue mission of Ruskan's career, DHS boss Kristi Noem said in a post on X, as she also hailed the 26-year-old as "an American hero".
She said Ruskan "directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas".
Speaking to the New York Post, Ruskan played down his efforts.
"Honestly, I'm mostly just a dude. I'm just doing a job," he said.
"This is what I signed up for, and I think that any single Coast Guard rescue swimmer or any single Coast Guard pilot, flight mechanic, whoever it may be, would have done the exact same thing in our situation."
11:40:01
What has Trump said?
Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration yesterday for Kerr County, calling the flash flooding in Texas "absolutely horrible".
The US president said the declaration would ensure first responders "immediately have the resources they need".
He said Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, would continue to be in Texas, adding he would "probably" visit on Friday.
"We want to leave a little time," he told reporters. "I would have done it today, but we would just be in their way, probably Friday."
'Nobody expected it'
The Trump administration has come in for scrutiny for its recent cuts to the National Weather Service, with some 600 employees laid off by the start of June.
Some Texas officials complained that NWS forecasts underestimated the rainfall on Friday, suggesting Trump's cuts were partially to blame. A White House spokesperson said the accusations were "disgusting".
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, Trump was asked if he was investigating whether cuts to the federal government left key vacancies at the NWS or in emergency coordination.
"They didn't," he said. "This was the thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it; nobody saw it. Very talented people are there, and they didn't see it."
Trump was also asked whether he was still planning to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and said it was "something we can talk about later".
11:10:01
Where did flooding start?
As much as 10ins (25cm) of heavy rain fell in just a few hours overnight in central Kerr County on Friday, causing the banks of the Guadalupe River to burst at around 4am local time.
Texans' homes and vehicles were swept away by the downpour - equivalent to months' worth of rain.
It appears that moisture from the remnants of tropical storm Barry, which affected southeast Mexico, aided the storms over Texas, leading to the significant flooding.
They lingered over the area, with the National Weather Service reporting 10-15 inches of rain fell in some spots.
The Guadalupe River at Comfort, downstream of Kerrville, rose extremely quickly - with data suggesting it rose by over 26 feet in around 45 minutes.
10:46:26
Flood watch to stay in place for central Texas
As we've mentioned, the National Weather Service has kept flood warnings in place across central Texas due to more heavy rain forecast.
The warnings, which include rainfall of between two and four inches, rising up to 10 inches in some locations, are in place until 7pm local time (1am UK time) for San Antonio, Austin and the devastated Kerr County.
The NWS said it was "difficult to pinpoint exact locations where isolated heavier amounts will occur".
It said that an "uptick in coverage and intensity of scattered showers and storms" is possible overnight near the route of Interstate 35, a major north-south highway that runs through Texas.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
12 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Monday briefing: The ‘toxic cocktail' of climate denial, federal cuts and the Texas floods
Good morning. The death toll from the catastrophic floods in Texas has climbed to 129, including at least 27 children and counsellors at Camp Mystic in Kerr County. With more than 160 people still missing, authorities warn that the number of casualties is likely to rise. On Sunday morning, some search operations were cancelled as heavy rain and strong winds battered the state once again. The flash floods, which swept through large parts of central Texas, are being described as one of the worst natural disasters in the state's history. At Camp Mystic, rain gauges recorded 6.5in (16.5cm) of rainfall in just 180 minutes. In addition to the human cost, the floods have caused widespread destruction. According to a preliminary estimate by private forecaster AccuWeather, the economic toll could range from $18bn to $22bn (£13.2bn to £16.2bn). The floods struck as the climate crisis worsens, and as the Trump administration's hollowing out of federal agencies has left critical services such as the National Weather Service under severe strain. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also facing continued threats of defunding. Yet, despite the scale of devastation, there has been little public reckoning over climate breakdown or the erosion of essential public services. Instead, conspiracy theories have abounded. To understand how this catastrophe unfolded and the political response to it, I spoke to Oliver Milman, the Guardian US environment reporter. That's after the headlines. Israel-Gaza | An Israeli airstrike has killed at least 10 people, including six children, who were waiting to collect water in Gaza, Palestinian health officials have said. Dozens of others were killed in Gaza over the weekend in a separate strike that hit a home and a shooting near a food aid distribution site. Health | Health officials have urged people to come forward for the measles vaccine if they are not up to date with their shots after a child at Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool died from the disease. UK news | Charlotte Church, veteran peace campaigners, Trade unionists, activists and politicians, are among hundreds who have signed a letter describing the move to ban the group Palestine Action as 'a major assault on our freedoms'. Spain | Several people were hurt in a second night of anti-migrant unrest in the town of Torre Pacheco in south-east Spain after a pensioner was beaten up, authorities said. NHS | Health secretory Wes Streeting will meet representatives from the British Medical Association this week as he looks to avert five days of strikes by resident doctors. The devastating floods began in the early hours of 4 July, Independence Day in the US. Oliver Milman told me that what started out as a seemingly small storm stalled in an area where two rivers in central Texas meet, and dumped an enormous amount of rain. 'It caused the river to burst its banks, swept away homes, cars, flooded rivers and, most tragically, caught up on Camp Mystic,' Oliver said. 'There's still hope that some people could be rescued, but it's certainly going to be one of the biggest, deadliest natural disasters in recent US history.' Oliver said there are several factors that could explain why this flood was so devastating. We also get into the responses from elected officials and other players. How much of this is down to the climate crisis? As the planet gets hotter, mostly because of humans burning fossil fuels, the atmosphere is able to hold more moisture. One meteorologist told Oliver that the Earth's atmosphere is now like a giant sponge. 'You've got more moisture in the atmosphere, and more energy because it's getting hotter, and therefore you're getting more of these extreme precipitation events happening in several places around the world, including parts of the eastern US. But the western half of the US seems to be getting more drought,' Oliver said. 'So, very crudely speaking, half the country's not getting enough rain, and the other half is getting too much in these intense downpours.' He pointed to some interesting statistics from the Environment Protection Agency: of the 10 heaviest precipitation single-day events in US history going back to 1910, nine have happened since 1995. 'We're clearly getting more and more of these events. There's been research done showing they're becoming more common in Texas and will continue to as the world heats up,' Oliver added. The geography of central Texas also made the floods more catastrophic. 'It's hilly and has these canyons, lots of rivers, and not much topsoil. So when rain hits, it flies off the ground very quickly. It's known as 'Flash Flood Alley' in some places, so that was a factor. The rain hit, and the devastation followed.' What impact have Donald Trump's cuts had? The other factor, which Oliver likened to a toxic cocktail, is the political situation in the US. 'The Trump administration has essentially tried to gut the federal workforce: firing scientists, firing weather forecasters, trying to eliminate large sections of the scientific agencies that deal with climate change. So you had a situation where a lot of National Weather Service offices, which track storms and issue warnings, were critically understaffed,' Oliver explained. Democrats have called for an investigation into whether the sweeping cuts introduced by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), once led by Elon Musk, played any role in the disaster. The Trump administration has dismissed any suggestion that its policies had an impact. 'The Trump administration has pushed back quite hard and said this was an act of God, there were adequate resources, and so on,' Oliver said. Yet, understaffing was an issue and there was a disconnect between the meteorologists issuing warnings and the emergency services, he said. 'The National Weather Service issued a warning about dangerous flood conditions at 1.14am [on 4 July], but there wasn't – and it's still unclear why – coordination with emergency services to evacuate people, to mobilise resources in enough time. A lot of people are pointing fingers at the cuts Trump has made to the coordination services usually handled by the federal government.' And it's not just Trump that people are focusing on. The week before the floods, Texas senator Ted Cruz, ensured that the 'big, beautiful bill', a Republican spending bill pushed through and signed by Trump on Independence Day, would include particular cuts. 'It does a lot of things: cuts the social safety net, people lose health care, gives tax breaks to the wealthy, removes food assistance, guts support for clean energy,' Oliver said. 'But one thing it also did was remove a $150m fund to improve weather forecasting at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Cruz personally inserted the language to cut that and then, tragically, just days later this storm hit his home state and killed many people. So there are a lot of questions being asked about his role and whether those cuts played a significant role.' Republicans have largely fallen into line on the Texas floods, lavishing praise on Trump, while avoiding questions around the effect of Doge. Has this moved the dial on the climate emergency? In Texas, the reaction on the ground has been one of disbelief and devastation, Oliver said. 'There's a lot of 'thoughts and prayers' rhetoric in Texas right now, a sense of rallying to help those in need. People are mainly stunned rather than immediately pointing fingers, although local officials are raising questions about how much warning they got from the National Weather Service. There are also concerns about the local government's actions. There had been a plan to install an early-warning flood system along the river, but the idea was ditched because it was considered too expensive. So you've got this local angle, too.' Far-right players have descended on central Texas in a stunt they claim is part of a 'disaster relief' effort. In a video posted by one group, they say their so-called 'activists' are distributing supplies to survivors, but make clear that they are prioritising 'their people' and 'European peoples' in those operations. As is now common when disaster strikes, conspiracy theories are being spread, Oliver said, by rightwing influencers and elected representatives such as Marjorie Taylor Greene. 'They have questioned the cause [of the flood], whether it's weather modification, cloud seeding, some nefarious machine. There's this irony: we are modifying the weather – it's called climate change. But it's not the kind of weather modification they're talking about.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Oliver isn't surprised by this reaction. 'People are now able to live in their own realities, sealed off from facts,' he said. 'Whatever people believed before the storm, the storm just reinforced it. That's become a recurring theme, not just in disasters but in politics more broadly. People are very entrenched here. I know that's also an issue in the UK and Europe, but in the US things feel paralysed. I don't know if this will move anyone's opinion.' Two museums in Ukraine, writes Charlotte Higgins, have found new ways to propagate the history and culture the Russian invasion had hoped to erase. It's a haunting tribute to resourcefulness under fire. Alex Needham, acting head of newsletters In a devastating New Yorker interview (£), Unicef's James Elder speaks of seeing children in Gaza with fourth-degree burns and shrapnel wounds, screaming in agony due to a lack of painkillers, all amid a deadly crisis of hunger and thirst. Aamna We're told that Britain is an angry nation, hostile to refugees, climate activists and people on benefits. But in fact, John Harris argues, the population's views are broadly in line with those of the audience at Glastonbury – so why aren't we represented by the mainstream political parties? Alex The Guardian's Dan Sabbagh reports from northern France on the enduring human drive to reach the UK – a spirit that continues to defy 20 years of political and security efforts to stop irregular migration. Aamna Are you reading this after a terrible night's sleep? In that case, click on this piece by Joel Snape, which is full of tips on how to make it through today without resorting to sugar, carbs and excessive amounts of coffee. Alex Tennis | Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon men's singles final, a month after losing to the Spaniard at the French Open. Sinner is the first Italian player to win a Wimbledon title. Cricket | India finished on 58 for 4 in the third test, needing another 135 runs to beat England on the final day after a sensational day's play at Lord's. Football | England surged into the last eight after Georgia Stanway sparked an emphatic 6-1 win against Wales. France trailed 2-1 at half-time but hit back to beat the Netherlands 5-2 – with two goals from Delphine Cascarino – to top Group D. The Guardian splashes on 'Warning over Israeli 'ethnic cleansing' plan for Gaza,' an interview with former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert. The Times leads on 'Bank could cut rates if jobs market slows down,' while the Telegraph goes with 'Tax raid looms for middle classes.' The Metro splashes on 'Politicians? We don't trust any of you,' for the Express, it's 'Toothless' new sex abuse laws won't protect children,' the Mirror has 'King backs Harry peace talks' on their family feud, and the Mail goes with 'Labour's doctors strike hypocrisy.' The FT leads on 'Germany urges weapons suppliers to speed up European rearmament,' and for the i Paper, it's 'Measles surge fears for summer holidays after child dies amid low jab uptake.' Syria's treasure hunting fever After the fall of Assad, a new business is booming in Syria: metal detectors. The items were banned by the regime but their return to shops means treasure hunters are searching for millenia-old burial sites, leaving the ancient city of Palmyra covered in holes. Reporter William Christou and Syrian archaeologist Amr Al-Azm speak with Michael Safi. A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad Social media can be brutal, but Brenda Allen is doing her bit to make it more benign. The 95-year-old, who lives in Cheshire, has proved a huge hit on TikTok. Her videos, in which she talks through her collection of Jellycat soft toys, have garnered more than 2m views, along with a flood of requests in the comments from people asking to adopt her as their gran. Brenda is now planning to auction her collection of Jellycats in aid of a children's hospice. Her daughter Julie said that the family had been 'blown away' by her moment of internet fame. Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday And finally, the Guardian's puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword Wordiply
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Search for Texas flood victims to resume after pause due to heavy rains
Crews on Monday were expected to resume looking for victims of catastrophic flooding in Texas that killed at least 132 people after more heavy rains temporarily paused their search and rescue operations. Those efforts along the Guadalupe River were halted on Sunday after a new round of severe weather led to high water rescues elsewhere and prompted fears that waterways could surge again above their banks. It was the first time search efforts for victims of the July Fourth floods were stopped due to severe weather. Authorities believe more than 160 people may still be missing in Kerr County alone, and 10 more in neighboring areas. In Kerrville, where local officials have come under scrutiny over whether residents were adequately warned about the rising water in the early morning hours of July 4, authorities went door-to-door to some homes after midnight early Sunday to alert people that flooding was again possible. Authorities also pushed phone alerts to those in the area. During the pause in searches, Ingram Fire Department officials ordered crews to immediately evacuate the Guadalupe River corridor in Kerr County, warning the potential for a flash flood was high. Late Sunday afternoon, the Kerr County Sheriff's Office announced that search teams in the western part of that county could resume their efforts. The Ingram Fire Department would resume its search and rescue efforts Monday morning, said agency spokesman Brian Lochte. Latest flooding damages dozens of homes Gov. Greg Abbott said on X the state conducted rescues of dozens of people in San Saba, Lampasas and Schleicher counties, and that evacuations were taking place in a handful of others. The latest round of flooding damaged about 100 homes and knocked down untold lengths of cattle fencing, said Ashley Johnson, CEO of the Hill Country Community Action Association, a San Saba-based nonprofit. 'Anything you can imagine in a rural community was damaged,' she said. 'Our blessing is it was daylight and we knew it was coming.' With more rain on the way, county officials ordered everyone living in flood-prone areas near the San Saba River to evacuate, with people moved to the San Saba Civic Center, Johnson said. A wide-ranging weather system brings heavy rains The weather system brought slow-moving storms and multiple rounds of heavy rain across a widespread area, pushing rivers and streams over their banks. The rains caused waterways to swell further north in Texas, where emergency crews rescued one motorist who was left stranded in waist-high rapids on a submerged bridge over the Bosque River. 'He drove into it and didn't realize how deep it was,' said Jeff Douglas, president of the McGregor Volunteer Fire Department. In the west Texas city of Sonora, authorities called for evacuations of some neighborhoods due to rising flood waters. Sonora is located about 110 miles (177 kilometers) northwest of Kerrville. Kerrville residents get support from police, alerts Under heavy rain, Matthew Stone on Sunday cleared branches and a log from a storm sewer in front of his home on Guadalupe Street in Kerrville as several inches of water pooled up on the road. Multiple houses on the street overlooking the Guadalupe River were severely impacted by the July 4 floods. Stone said he felt safe for now. 'The cops have been coming back and forth, we're getting lots of alerts, we're getting a lot of support,' he said. Just before daybreak on the Fourth of July, destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the Guadalupe River, washing away homes and vehicles. Ever since, searchers have used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims. The floods laid waste to the Hill Country region of Texas. The riverbanks and hills of Kerr County are filled with vacation cabins, youth camps and campgrounds, including Camp Mystic, the century-old, all-girls Christian summer camp. Located in a low-lying area along the Guadalupe River in a region known as flash flood alley, Camp Mystic lost at least 27 campers and counselors. The flood was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, experts said, and moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system. ___ Associated Press reporters Sophia Tareen in Chicago; Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, New York; Juan Lozano in Houston and Michael Weissenstein in Dobbs Ferry, New York, contributed to this report.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Tragic end to search for Camp Mystic counselor after Texas flood
The search for 19-year-old Camp Mystic counselor Katherine Ferruzzo has come to a heartbreaking end with her remains recovered from the mud-clogged banks of the Guadalupe River. Her body was found on Friday morning, eight days after flash floods turned a summer refuge into a deadly disaster zone. Ferruzzo, a recent high school graduate from Houston, had been missing since the early hours of July 4, when a wall of raging water tore through the all-girls Christian summer camp near Hunt, Texas. The tragedy unfolded in the darkness as chaos broke out, with cabins obliterated, bunks swept away, and dozens of lives from the camp snuffed out. Her family confirmed her death in a solemn statement: 'On Friday, July 11, 2025, Katherine Ferruzzo's remains were found. We are incredibly grateful to all the search and rescue professionals and volunteers who have remained steadfast in their efforts to locate the victims of this tragedy. We would especially like to thank the Texas Rangers.' Ferruzzo is one of at least 27 confirmed dead from the catastrophic flooding that overwhelmed Camp Mystic, and one of 129 people killed in what is now being called the deadliest flash flood event in Texas history. For generations of Texas girls, Camp Mystic has been a beloved summer tradition — a place of faith, friendship, and freedom under the stars. Founded in 1926, the camp has never seen a disaster of this magnitude. Its historic riverside cabins, some nearly a century old, were crushed or swept away by the torrent. Officials say many of the victims were caught in their bunks or separated during efforts to escape. The flood was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, experts said, and moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system. The sheer amount of rain was overwhelming. Former NOAA chief scientist Ryan Maue, a private meteorologist, calculated on July 5 that the storm had dropped 120 billion gallons of water on Kerr County, which received the brunt of the storm. Camp organizers have yet to release a full statement, although several staffers have been working closely with the families of the missing. Ferruzzo had been preparing to begin a degree in education at the University of Texas at Austin, with dreams of becoming a special education teacher. Friends and family described her as kind, selfless, and committed to helping others, especially children with learning differences. Her loved ones are now channeling their grief into a cause she cared about deeply. The Katherine Ferruzzo Legacy Foundation is being established in her honor 'to support those with special needs and learning differences,' the family announced. The July 4 flood began with a wall of water, the result of hours of tropical rainfall that saturated the region overnight. As campers slept in wooden cabins, the Guadalupe River had swelled by 26 feet by 4:30am. The campsites, some of them situated just yards from the river's edge, stood no chance. Survivors have spoken of being jolted awake by the raging water, then running blindly through the darkness as cabins collapsed around them. Search teams worked for days through tangled debris, uprooted trees, and collapsed structures, deploying boats, drones, cadaver dogs, and helicopters. But the sheer force of the flood and the river's strong current has made recovery agonizingly slow. Ferruzzo was among the last missing campers still unaccounted for before her body was found. Across Texas, the death toll has continued to rise, with dozens still unaccounted for, many presumed drowned. Entire towns across the Hill Country have been ravaged, with roads remaining impassable, and in some counties the power has yet to be restored. Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency days ago, calling the disaster 'a once-in-a-century flood event.' In Kerr County alone, more than 80 structures were destroyed, with families displaced indefinitely. On Sunday, more heavy rains in Texas paused the weeklong search for victims. Officials warned that the downpours could again cause waterways to surge. It was the first time a new round of severe weather had paused the search since the July Fourth floods. In Kerrville, where local officials have come under scrutiny about the warnings given to residents, authorities went door-to-door to some homes after midnight early on Sunday to alert people that flooding was again possible. Authorities also pushed alerts to the phones of those in the area. Ingram Fire Department officials ordered search crews to immediately evacuate the Guadalupe River corridor in Kerr County until further notice, warning the potential for a flash flood is high. Search-and-rescue efforts are expected to resume on Monday, depending on river flow, fire department spokesman Brian Lochte said. 'We're working with a few crews and airboats and SAR (search-and-rescue) boats just in case,' Lochte said. Gov. Greg Abbott said on X that the state was making rescues in San Saba, Lampasas, and Schleicher counties and that evacuations were taking place in a handful of others. The latest round of flooding damaged about 100 homes and knocked down untold lengths of cattle fencing, said Ashley Johnson, CEO of the Hill Country Community Action Association, a San Saba-based nonprofit. 'Anything you can imagine in a rural community was damaged,' she said. 'Our blessing is it was daylight and we knew it was coming.' With more rain on the way, county officials ordered everyone living in flood-prone areas near the San Saba River to evacuate. Johnson said people were being moved to the San Saba Civic Center, which has become a safe, high place for people to receive aid and shelter. 'Everyone is in some way personally affected by this,' she said. 'Everyone is just doing what they can to help their neighbors.' The weather system brought multiple rounds of heavy rains and slow-moving storms across a widespread area, pushing rivers and streams over their banks. Heading into the afternoon and evening, the heaviest rains were expected along the I-35 corridor and eastwards, said meteorologist Patricia Sanchez from the National Weather Service's Fort Worth office.
