Texas flooding live updates: Flood threat lingers, with death toll expected to rise
HUNT, Texas — The 750 campers were sound asleep in their bunk beds in the early-morning hours of July 4, expecting to wake up to a day of celebrations — a fireworks show and special treats of Hershey's bars and Coca-Cola by the river that evening.
Late Sunday afternoon, dark clouds descended once again over the area. Thunder began to rumble. A slow but steady rain began to fall.
Along the Guadalupe River between the towns of Comfort and Center Point, searchers continued to walk the riverbanks amid warnings that the water could soon rise again.
'If it were my kids, I would want anybody to help,' said Mario Fierro, 36, of Kerrville.
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3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tropical Depression Chantal causes flood threats across Eastern US
Chantal, a former tropical storm, was expected to continue producing rain across portions of the mid-Atlantic on Monday, July 7. The system, downgraded to a tropical depression, was spinning over the mid-Atlantic region on the morning of July 7, with the center located about 70 miles from Danville, Virginia. A flood watch was in effect July 7 for several states, including Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. "Storm total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches, with local amounts up to 6 inches, is expected," the Weather Prediction Center said in a 5 a.m. ET update. "An elevated risk for flash flooding will continue." In addition to the flood threat, "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are expected to continue at beaches along the U.S. east coast from northeastern Florida to the Mid-Atlantic states during the next day or so." Chantal had stirred up trouble in a few North Carolina locations as it crept northward on July 6, spreading out into Virginia and West Virginia with flooding rains and a few tornadoes. Major flood warnings remained in effect for three waterways to the west of Raleigh. Up to 8 inches of rain had been reported west of Durham. In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, town officials said on the night of July 6 that they were evacuating some homes at Camelot Village due to flash flooding, and they reported a dozen road closures. A gauge on the Haw River, between Greensboro and Durham, North Carolina, rose more than 25 feet on July 6, according to a U.S. Geological Survey monitoring station. Further south, the Haw River near Bynum, rose roughly 15 feet in six hours and is expected to crest near its record high on July 7. The Emo River near Huckleberry Springs, blew past its record high, set in 1989, by more than three feet and was still rising on the morning of July 7. In Moore County, in Central North Carolina, officials declared a state of emergency. The proclamation said the county has suffered "extreme amounts of rain in a short amount of time," with widespread flooding, damaged roads. The weather service issued a flash flood warning for parts of the county because of the potential failure of a farm pond, and advised residents in low-lying areas along Joes Creek between Taylortown and Whispering Pines to "move to higher ground immediately." One tornado was reported in each of the following cities: Raleigh, Chatham and Mebane. The National Weather Service said it expected to send survey crews out to confirm the tornadoes. The possible twister at the Raleigh Executive Jetport caused damage to a couple of hangars and some aircraft, according to a weather service report. No tropical storms are expected inthe Atlantic Ocean over the next week, the hurricane center said. In the Pacific, however, the hurricane center is watching two storms that could see potential development off the southwest coast of Mexico. Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, writes about climate change, violent weather and other news. Reach her at dpulver@ or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Depression Chantal spurs flood warnings in Mid-Atlantic
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Multiple fatalities reported in Tropical Storm Chantal flooding in North Carolina
Multiple people died in central North Carolina after Tropical Storm Chantal brought a deluge of rain and flooding to the area on July 6, according to officials. The Raleigh-Durham area saw nearly 12 inches of rainfall in 24 hours, while neighboring areas reported at least nine inches, according to the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. The influx of rain caused flooding in several areas including Alamance, Chatham, Moore, Orange and Person counties, according to the Citizen Times. Chantal was downgraded to a tropical depression by July 7, but was still dumping rain across the mid-Atlantic. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said at a news conference on July 8 that officials from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services were still working to confirm the total number of fatalities from the flooding, but that there are "a handful of reported deaths to date." The NCDHHS said it does not currently have verified information on storm-related deaths but referred USA TODAY to local law enforcement. The North Carolina Department of Emergency Management told USA TODAY in a statement that the state's emergency response team "is aware of potential fatalities linked to Tropical Storm Chantal as reported by law enforcement" and is awaiting reviews from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Here's what we know. In Chatham County, which is just west of Raleigh, three people died in the floods, officials confirmed to USA TODAY. Sandra Portnoy Hirschman, 83, of Pittsboro, North Carolina, died around 11:30 p.m. local time on July 6 when her car became submerged in water, Steve Newton, Chatham County's emergency management director, told USA TODAY. Two individuals who went boating on Jordan Lake around 5 p.m. on July 6 also died, Newton said. One boater was recovered on July 8, while the second individual was found July 9 — both are awaiting positive identification from the medical examiner's office, Randall Rigsbee, Chatham County Sheriff's Office public information officer, told USA TODAY. Monica Butner was driving to work in Hillsborough, North Carolina, on the evening of July 6 when her car got stuck in floodwater, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said in a release. The 58-year-old called 911 around 10:30 p.m. local time amid the heavy rainfall, but the call disconnected, OCSO said. Firefighters soon located her unoccupied car. First responders found Butner dead around 5 p.m. on July 7. Officials said she was "almost completely obscured by fallen trees and debris approximately 120 yards downstream from her vehicle." 'The devastating power of stormwater caused Ms. Butner's tragic death, despite the heroic efforts of searchers and the work of the top-notch professionals at Emergency Management who coordinated the incoming resources," Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in the release. "I am grateful to everyone who assisted with this search, and I offer my condolences to all affected by this tragedy.' In Alamance County, two people died under the jurisdiction of the Alamance County Sheriff's Office, Byron Tucker, public information officer, confirmed to USA TODAY. Hajar Hassib, 23, of Graham, North Carolina, was reported missing in Graham and later found dead in the flooding, Tucker said. James Michael Parcell, 71 of Haw River, North Carolina, was also found dead after being reported missing to ACSO. Both were "a result of swift water across the roadway," and found within miles of each other, Tucker said. Parcell's obituary said he died in a car accident. Known as Mike, Parcell "lived life to the fullest" and "always found a way to make you laugh," according to his obituary. USA TODAY has reached out to Gov. Stein's office for more information. This story has been updated with additional information. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Storm Chantal flooding in NC kills multiple people
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
St. Johns County Fire Rescue: 3 people injured by lightning strike at St. Augustine Pier
Lightning struck the St. Augustine Pier, injuring at least three people, including one transported in critical condition, according to St. Johns County Fire Rescue. The agency said first responders treated and evacuated three patients Saturday afternoon. One was transported in critical condition to a local trauma center. Another person who had minor injuries was taken to a local hospital. And a third person refused transport, according to the St. Johns Fire Rescue post on Facebook. Both St. Johns and St. Augustine Fire Department personnel were at the scene and evacuating patients, according to the initial post at 3:07 p.m. They asked the public to avoid the pier while emergency operations were ongoing. They also urged people to go inside when they hear thunder. The St. Augustine strike comes two days after a pair of teenagers were killed by lightning in Waycross, Ga. The Waycross mayor said Joey Nelson and Randall Martin III were struck by lightning on July 10 during a summer storm, reported First Coast News, the Times-Union news partner. The mayor and Martin's family told First Coast News that he was on a fishing trip with his friend, Joey Nelson — a 2024 graduate of Ware County High — when the two were struck by lightning during a storm and died near their vehicle. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Lightning strike injures 3 people at St. Augustine Pier
