Texas flood death toll hits 120; 170 still missing
Texas authorities faced mounting scrutiny Thursday over the response to flash flooding that has left at least 120 people dead, as details surfaced about reported delays of early alerts that could have saved lives.
The confirmed death toll from Fourth of July holiday floods that ravaged the central Texas Hill Country -- including a river bank cluttered with children's summer camps -- stood at 120, after police lowered it by one from a day earlier.
And the urgent search for more than 170 people still missing entered a seventh day.
Hundreds of workers in Kerr County and other central Texas communities continue to comb through piles of muddy debris, but with no live rescues reported this week, worries have swelled that the death toll could still rise.
With US President Donald Trump preparing to visit the disaster zone Friday with First Lady Melania Trump, new questions have emerged about when the first emergency alerts reached the hundreds of people in the path of nature's fury.
At a news conference Thursday Kerrville police Sergeant Jonathan Lamb deflected a question about police radios being unable to communicate with county and emergency officials, perhaps hampering rescue efforts as the flood raged.
"I don't have any information to that point," he responded.
Lamb said people from all over Texas were volunteering to help with the search effort, offering their own equipment such as boats and earth moving vehicles, and suggested there was a glut of good will.
"I don't want to say it's been a problem, because we're so grateful for the amount of people who want to come to this community to help," Lamb said.
"But it's important that we have certified professional search teams out there right now."
Several local and state officials in recent days have deflected questions that sought to clarify Kerr County's specific actions as the disaster rapidly unfolded.
ABC News reported early Thursday that at 4:22 am on July 4, a firefighter in Ingram, upstream of Kerrville, had asked the Kerr County Sheriff's Office to alert residents of nearby Hunt of the coming flood.
The network said its affiliate KSAT obtained audio of the call, and that the first alert did not reach Kerr County's CodeRED system for a full 90 minutes.
In some cases, it said, the warning messages did not arrive until after 10:00 am, when hundreds of people had already been swept away by raging waters.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Over 110 dead since late June as monsoon rains wreak havoc in Pakistan
Commuters make their way through a flooded street during heavy monsoon rains in Hyderabad on July 14, 2025. Photo: AFP Monsoon rains in Pakistan have been linked to more than 110 deaths including dozens of children since they arrived in late June, according to government figures released Monday. Data from the national disaster agency between June 26 and July 14 showed that electrocution was the leading cause of fatalities, followed by flash floods. In late June, at least 13 tourists were swept to their deaths while sheltering from flash floods on a raised river bank. In its latest report, the disaster agency said 111 people including 53 children have been killed, with the highest number of deaths in the most populous province of Punjab. Meanwhile, the national meteorological service has issued a warning for further heavy rainfall in the northern and eastern regions of the country, with the potential for urban flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage due to strong winds. Torrential rains with wind-thundershowers predicted between July 15-17 July, 2025 — Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) July 14, 2025 The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that 'heavy to very heavy rainfall' could unleash flash floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, parts of Balochistan, Kashmir, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and mudslides in Gilgit-Baltistan are also possible, while windstorms may damage trees, poles, vehicles and standing crops. 'The combination of monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, and a strong westerly wave, will intensify rainfall across the country,' said a Met Office spokesperson. This dual weather system is likely to persist over the coming days. In the past 24 hours, Okara (72mm), Sahiwal (66mm), and DG Khan (51mm) led rainfall reports in Punjab, while Swat, Kalam, and Malam Jabba received steady precipitation in K-P. Urban flooding remains a significant concern for cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, and Peshawar. Pakistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, and its 240 million residents are facing extreme weather events with increasing frequency. In 2022, unprecedented monsoon floods submerged a third of Pakistan and killed 1,700 people, with some areas yet to recover from the damage. In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, including strong hailstorms.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Pets reunited with owners after Texas floods as Best Friends Animal Society aids rescue efforts
In the aftermath of the deadly flash floods that struck Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, animal rescue groups are working to reunite displaced pets with their owners. The Hill Country floods, which have resulted in at least 120 deaths, also left many pets separated from families. 'When the floods occurred, we knew right away from other emergency response situations, such as the fires in Los Angeles, that we have shelters that are full of animals and what we are going to need in any event like this was to make room for displaced pets, lost pets and provide that relief for families that are already going through complete tumultuous situations to maybe have one less thing to worry about,' Marc Peralta, chief programme officer for Best Friends Animal Society, told ABC News Live. Best Friends Animal Society and its partners have reportedly rescued about 130 cats and dogs from shelters to create space for pets displaced by the floods. Peralta said this will help pets remain in the community and increase the chances of reuniting them with their owners. 'Just like any pet in a shelter, they can go up for adoption. But a lot of times if situations like this occur, we will extend wait periods just to make sure that we are giving ample amount of time because we always want them to go back home first, especially if we know they are stranded or lost,' Peralta added. Many local government organisations working with Best Friends Animal Society operate on donations, with wishlists posted online for those wishing to support shelters.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Texas flood death toll hits 120; 170 still missing
A search and recovery team checks a large pile of debris for remains of the deceased on the bank of the Guadalupe River in Comfort, Texas. PHOTO: AFP Texas authorities faced mounting scrutiny Thursday over the response to flash flooding that has left at least 120 people dead, as details surfaced about reported delays of early alerts that could have saved lives. The confirmed death toll from Fourth of July holiday floods that ravaged the central Texas Hill Country -- including a river bank cluttered with children's summer camps -- stood at 120, after police lowered it by one from a day earlier. And the urgent search for more than 170 people still missing entered a seventh day. Hundreds of workers in Kerr County and other central Texas communities continue to comb through piles of muddy debris, but with no live rescues reported this week, worries have swelled that the death toll could still rise. With US President Donald Trump preparing to visit the disaster zone Friday with First Lady Melania Trump, new questions have emerged about when the first emergency alerts reached the hundreds of people in the path of nature's fury. At a news conference Thursday Kerrville police Sergeant Jonathan Lamb deflected a question about police radios being unable to communicate with county and emergency officials, perhaps hampering rescue efforts as the flood raged. "I don't have any information to that point," he responded. Lamb said people from all over Texas were volunteering to help with the search effort, offering their own equipment such as boats and earth moving vehicles, and suggested there was a glut of good will. "I don't want to say it's been a problem, because we're so grateful for the amount of people who want to come to this community to help," Lamb said. "But it's important that we have certified professional search teams out there right now." Several local and state officials in recent days have deflected questions that sought to clarify Kerr County's specific actions as the disaster rapidly unfolded. ABC News reported early Thursday that at 4:22 am on July 4, a firefighter in Ingram, upstream of Kerrville, had asked the Kerr County Sheriff's Office to alert residents of nearby Hunt of the coming flood. The network said its affiliate KSAT obtained audio of the call, and that the first alert did not reach Kerr County's CodeRED system for a full 90 minutes. In some cases, it said, the warning messages did not arrive until after 10:00 am, when hundreds of people had already been swept away by raging waters.
