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Economic Times
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Economic Times
Texas Flood Death Toll: Families desperate as number reaches 52; 27 girls still unaccounted for as searches continue
Texas floods death toll by county: latest numbers Kerr County: 44 confirmed dead. Most victims were swept away along the Guadalupe River near Hunt and Ingram, where floodwaters rose over 25 feet in under an hour. Travis County: 5 dead. Several cars were caught on flooded roads west of Austin. Burnet County: 2 dead. A father and daughter were found in a trailer near Lake Buchanan. Kendall County: 1 confirmed dead. A woman's body was recovered near Comfort after her car was washed off a rural crossing. Live Events The missing and the waiting A region known for danger Frantic rescues, bitter questions Families swept away (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel When the rain came, it wasn't gentle. It battered central Texas in the early hours of Friday, turning the Guadalupe River into a raging force that rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes. By Saturday night, the floods had killed at least 52 people, 15 of them children, and left rescuers combing through debris and mud for the Kerr County alone, 43 lives were lost. Many were campers at Camp Mystic , a Christian summer retreat that had stood along the river for nearly a century. It's here that 27 girls are still unaccounted for.'The camp was completely destroyed,' said Elinor Lester, 13, one of the survivors. 'A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.'The death toll from the flash floods that ripped through Texas Hill Country has climbed to 52, including 15 children. Search teams are still combing through debris and swollen rivers, with 27 girls from Camp Mystic still missing. Here's what we know so far about where victims were found:Search teams have rescued more than 850 people so far — some from trees, others from rooftops. But there's a grim sense that time is slipping away. Dalton Rice, Kerrville City Manager, said, 'We're tracking the 'known missing' — the 27 — but there could be others. We simply don't know yet.'At an elementary school acting as a reunification centre, families wait for news. Some cling to hope. Others brace for the worst.'We still have people coming here looking for their loved ones. We've had a little success, but not much,' said Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram Independent School part of Texas has a nickname: flash flood alley . It's earned. The Hill Country is all rugged slopes and shallow soils that shed rain like a tin roof.'When it rains, water doesn't soak into the soil,' said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. 'It rushes down the hill.'In the past, officials had considered setting up a flood siren system along the river — like the tornado sirens in the Midwest. 'We know we get rains. We know the river rises. But nobody saw this coming,' said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly. He admitted the plan for flood warnings never got off the ground, partly because of the Camp Mystic, the chaos came fast. Some campers crossed bridges roped together in knee-high water. Others were lifted out by helicopter. An 8-year-old girl from Alabama was among the confirmed dead. Jane Ragsdale, co-owner of Heart O' the Hills, another nearby camp, died in the flooding Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster and urged Texans to pray. 'I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday — for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,' he there's anger too. AccuWeather claimed its warnings, along with alerts from the National Weather Service, should have given officials enough time to evacuate vulnerable camps. 'These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,' the company Security Secretary Kristi Noem admitted the forecast had fallen short. 'A moderate flood watch issued on Thursday… did not accurately predict the extreme rainfall,' she NOAA director Rick Spinrad put it more bluntly: 'People's ability to prepare for these storms will be compromised. It undoubtedly means that additional lives will be lost and probably more property damage.'There's no shortage of horror stories. Erin Burgess and her teenage son clung to a tree for an hour after water poured into their house. 'My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,' she Adelman watched water drive his entire family — including his 94-year-old grandmother and his 9-year-old grandson — into the attic. 'I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death.'W. Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, promised that no one will give up. 'The process is going to keep going,' he said. 'We're not going to stop until we find everyone that's missing.'President Donald Trump offered prayers and federal aid. 'Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best,' he for many families in the Hill Country, the truth is harder than any headline. Tonia Fucci summed up the mood as she stood in Comfort, a town downstream from Camp Mystic. 'Complete shock. I'm still in shock today. And with the rescues going on and helicopters, you just know there's so many missing children and missing people. You just want them to be found for the sake of the families. But, you know, it's not going to be a good ending.'Here's the thing. In places like this, rain can turn deadly overnight. The question is whether this time, someone should have seen it coming.(With inputs from Agencies)
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Texas Flood Death Toll: Families desperate as number reaches 52; 27 girls still unaccounted for as searches continue
Texas floods death toll by county: latest numbers Kerr County: 44 confirmed dead. Most victims were swept away along the Guadalupe River near Hunt and Ingram, where floodwaters rose over 25 feet in under an hour. Travis County: 5 dead. Several cars were caught on flooded roads west of Austin. Burnet County: 2 dead. A father and daughter were found in a trailer near Lake Buchanan. Kendall County: 1 confirmed dead. A woman's body was recovered near Comfort after her car was washed off a rural crossing. Live Events The missing and the waiting A region known for danger Frantic rescues, bitter questions Families swept away (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel When the rain came, it wasn't gentle. It battered central Texas in the early hours of Friday, turning the Guadalupe River into a raging force that rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes. By Saturday night, the floods had killed at least 52 people, 15 of them children, and left rescuers combing through debris and mud for the Kerr County alone, 43 lives were lost. Many were campers at Camp Mystic , a Christian summer retreat that had stood along the river for nearly a century. It's here that 27 girls are still unaccounted for.'The camp was completely destroyed,' said Elinor Lester, 13, one of the survivors. 'A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.'The death toll from the flash floods that ripped through Texas Hill Country has climbed to 52, including 15 children. Search teams are still combing through debris and swollen rivers, with 27 girls from Camp Mystic still missing. Here's what we know so far about where victims were found:Search teams have rescued more than 850 people so far — some from trees, others from rooftops. But there's a grim sense that time is slipping away. Dalton Rice, Kerrville City Manager, said, 'We're tracking the 'known missing' — the 27 — but there could be others. We simply don't know yet.'At an elementary school acting as a reunification centre, families wait for news. Some cling to hope. Others brace for the worst.'We still have people coming here looking for their loved ones. We've had a little success, but not much,' said Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram Independent School part of Texas has a nickname: flash flood alley . It's earned. The Hill Country is all rugged slopes and shallow soils that shed rain like a tin roof.'When it rains, water doesn't soak into the soil,' said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. 'It rushes down the hill.'In the past, officials had considered setting up a flood siren system along the river — like the tornado sirens in the Midwest. 'We know we get rains. We know the river rises. But nobody saw this coming,' said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly. He admitted the plan for flood warnings never got off the ground, partly because of the Camp Mystic, the chaos came fast. Some campers crossed bridges roped together in knee-high water. Others were lifted out by helicopter. An 8-year-old girl from Alabama was among the confirmed dead. Jane Ragsdale, co-owner of Heart O' the Hills, another nearby camp, died in the flooding Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster and urged Texans to pray. 'I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday — for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,' he there's anger too. AccuWeather claimed its warnings, along with alerts from the National Weather Service, should have given officials enough time to evacuate vulnerable camps. 'These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,' the company Security Secretary Kristi Noem admitted the forecast had fallen short. 'A moderate flood watch issued on Thursday… did not accurately predict the extreme rainfall,' she NOAA director Rick Spinrad put it more bluntly: 'People's ability to prepare for these storms will be compromised. It undoubtedly means that additional lives will be lost and probably more property damage.'There's no shortage of horror stories. Erin Burgess and her teenage son clung to a tree for an hour after water poured into their house. 'My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,' she Adelman watched water drive his entire family — including his 94-year-old grandmother and his 9-year-old grandson — into the attic. 'I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death.'W. Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, promised that no one will give up. 'The process is going to keep going,' he said. 'We're not going to stop until we find everyone that's missing.'President Donald Trump offered prayers and federal aid. 'Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best,' he for many families in the Hill Country, the truth is harder than any headline. Tonia Fucci summed up the mood as she stood in Comfort, a town downstream from Camp Mystic. 'Complete shock. I'm still in shock today. And with the rescues going on and helicopters, you just know there's so many missing children and missing people. You just want them to be found for the sake of the families. But, you know, it's not going to be a good ending.'Here's the thing. In places like this, rain can turn deadly overnight. The question is whether this time, someone should have seen it coming.(With inputs from Agencies)
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New fund for property owners with damage from Clark Mills tornado, nearby storms
An emergency fund has been set up at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties to help property owners with damage from the tornado in Clark Mills and severe thunderstorms June 22. The storms killed three people, including 6-year-old twins, and caused widespread damages to homes and buildings. The fund was created through a partnership between the foundation and Oneida County. A similar fund was created last year to help victims of the tornado that touched down in Rome on July 16. "In the wake of such heartbreaking devastation, we are reminded of the deep strength and compassion that unite us as a community," said Alicia Dicks, the foundation's president/CEO. "Our friends in the Town of Kirkland and the surrounding areas are facing unimaginable loss, and they need us — every one of us — now more than ever. This fund is more than financial support; it's a lifeline of hope and a step toward healing for the lives and neighborhoods torn apart by this storm." Anyone who wants to contribute to the fund, whether as an individual, institution or company, can do so online on the Community Foundation website or by mailing a check to the Community Foundation, 2608 Genesee St., Utica, NY 13502. Questions on corporate giving or any kind of gift options can be emailed to Nick Grimmer, chief development officer, at ngrimmer@ Loved ones have started fundraisers on GoFundMe for Kayleigh Bisson, the mother of twins Emily and Kenni who were killed when a tree fell on their home, and for Shelly Johnson, 50, who was also killed when a tree fell on her home. By late afternoon on June 24, the Bisson fundraiser had raised $302,525 toward a $380,000 goal with one donation of $10,000. A GoFundMe fundraiser for Johnson's long-time partner Eddie had raised $26,440 toward a $30,000 goal by late afternoon on June 24. A second fundraiser on GoFundMe, which simply says it is collecting money for Johnson's family to cover funeral and other expenses, has raised $1,650 toward a $9,000 goal. That fundraiser says that Johnson worked at Boscov's. More: What to know about Mohawk Valley cleanup, power restoration, closed roads after tornado More: Cleanup across Mohawk Valley begins after fatal Clark Mills tornado Affected residents may be eligible for up to $5,000 in funding. But Oneida County and the Community Foundation are still working out details of how that fund will be distributed to those who need help in the area of Clark Mills and the Town of Kirkland. 'Oneida County is here to help in every way possible,' Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. said. 'Like last year's Rome Victim Recovery Fund, this assistance will help our residents recover from the damages of June 22's tornado and storms . . . As always, we will get through this together — and be stronger for it.' Residents can begin the application process by calling Oneida County on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at (315) 798-5502 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to begin the application process. This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Oneida County, Community Foundation set up fund for tornado damage
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gulf Coast State College Foundation receives $80K grant
PANAMA CITY — The Gulf Coast State College Foundation has received an $80,000 grant from the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. According to a press release, the grant will provide support to students in GCSC's TRIO program, which helps low-income, first-generation and disabled students. 'Gulf Coast State College's TRIO program provides comprehensive support to eligible students across Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties,' the release says. 'The program's mission is to motivate and empower students to successfully complete a college credential or degree.' The Gulf Coast State College Foundation was founded more than 55 years ago. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit aims to increase access to higher education. Since 2011, the foundation has been awarded $670,000 from the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The donations have supported nearly 600 GCSC students through scholarships and programming. Bus Driver: Bay District Schools bus driver arrested, accused of striking 12-year-old student 'We are honored to be entrusted with these funds to support the educational journeys of students whose paths to college haven't always been easy,' Ashlin Glatthar, executive director of the GCSC Foundation, said in the release. 'This grant will have a profound impact — especially for part-time students, student parents, and those pursuing workforce credentials in high-demand fields.' This article originally appeared on The News Herald: $80K grant will help Gulf Coast State College students
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'A total shame': Dozens without homes after fire destroys St. Clair County apartment
The Brief A fire early Sunday destroyed an apartment in East China Township. Everyone made it out alive, but two people suffered smoke inhalation, while one resident was burned. Community support has been pouring in for those impacted by the fire. ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - Residents of 24 apartments are now piecing their lives back together after a weekend fire destroyed their building in St. Clair County. "Started getting yelled at to 'get out of the building, 'it's on fire,'" said Anthony Marentette, a resident of Bree Manor Apartments. The backstory The apartment caught on fire around midnight Sunday. Fire officials said cold weather made fighting the flames more difficult, and at one point a fire truck even froze. One resident suffered burns and two police officers suffered smoke inhalation, but everyone made it out alive. However, the building was deemed a total loss. "It's a total loss, a total shame," said resident Tricia Peacock. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but sources said a candle in one of the apartments may be a factor. What you can do Community support has been pouring in for those impacted by the fire. Groups like the Community Foundation of St. Clair County are providing help through disaster funds. Fundraising pages are also being set up to help. This GoFundMe, for instance, was created to help a woman who lost everything. "Started getting yelled at to 'get out of the building, 'it's on fire,'" Anthony Marentette "It's a total loss, a total shame," Tricia Peacock missing cat Bree Manor Apartments East China Township just after midnight Sunday cause under investigation cold and wet weather caused issues firetruck froze 24-unit building total loss everyone made it out one resident suffered burns two police officers smoke inhalation community support pouring in
