Latest news with #BrenhamElementarySchool
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Epoch Times
Rescue Crews Recover Body of 10-Year-Old Girl Swept Away by Texas Floodwaters
The body of a 10-year-old girl who was swept away by surging floodwaters in Brenham, Texas has been found, as severe weather continues to threaten southeastern Texas and the Gulf Coast. Devah Woods, a third-grade student at Brenham Elementary School, Around 4 p.m., the sisters encountered rapidly rising waters from a creek, according to Melinda Gordon, a spokesperson for the city. Authorities are uncertain whether Devah slipped and fell or was pulled in by the current, but her sister ran to seek help. A man who witnessed the incident and a Brenham police officer both made attempts to rescue Devah, but were unable to reach her in the swift water, according to Gordon. The man managed to grab her backpack, but she was carried away. Both the man and the officer were treated by paramedics and released. Related Stories 4/30/2025 4/21/2025 Rescue efforts began immediately, with teams searching through the night. The Brenham Fire Department, working with more than a dozen supporting agencies, deployed drones equipped with thermal imaging and search dogs in hopes of locating the missing girl. However, as heavy thunderstorms moved into the area, the operation was scaled back for safety reasons, the department said in a Early Tuesday, four swift water rescue teams resumed the search. Around 10:45 a.m., a dive team from the Texas Department of Public Safety located Devah's body 1.2 miles from where she was last seen, according to Brenham Police Lt. Steven Eilert. 'We have taken care of her as much as we could. Our hearts go out to (her) family. It is a difficult thing,' Eilert said during a news conference. Devah's mother attended the news conference but did not speak. The tragedy has shaken the Brenham community, which has a population of about 19,000 and is located roughly 70 miles northwest of Houston. Mayor Atwood Kenjura described the city as a 'very, very special community, very tight-knit Christian community.' He said, 'The response from everyone was overwhelming. We don't like the outcome that happened.' At Brenham Elementary School, support services are being offered to students and staff. The Brenham Independent School District said in a The region is still recovering from last week's storms, which caused widespread flooding and travel disruptions across southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, according to the National Weather Service. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From
San Francisco Chronicle
06-05-2025
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rescue crews recover the body of a 10-year-old girl lost in Texas floods
BRENHAM, Texas (AP) — The body of a 10-year-old girl who was swept away in rapidly rising floodwaters has been recovered, Brenham Police Chief Mark Donovan said Tuesday. Her body was found as forecasters warned that Tuesday could bring more heavy rains and flooding to the Houston area and the state's coast. Teams of people scoured the city of Brenham on Monday night, using drones with thermal imaging and dogs to try to find the girl. The water rescue operation was scaled back overnight when heavy thunderstorms moved through the area, but four swift water rescue teams resumed operations early Tuesday, the Brenham Fire Department said in a social media post. The department was working with around a dozen supporting agencies to find the girl, who was last seen at about 4 p.m. Monday. She was a student from Brenham Elementary School and support services will be available for students and staff, according to a Brenham Independent School District social media post. 'Our hearts are with the student's family, and we ask our community to keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time,' the district said. The next round of severe storms could bring as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain Tuesday to parts of southeastern Texas, according to the National Weather Service in Houston. Strong rip currents and flooding along Gulf-facing beaches, especially during high tides, was also in the forecast. A large swath of Texas and parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi were under flood watches early Tuesday.
