Latest news with #KerrCounty
CNN
27 minutes ago
- Climate
- CNN
In pictures: Deadly flooding in Texas
Torrential rain has caused flash flooding in parts of central Texas, killing more than 20 people. In Kerr County, more than 20 girls are missing from Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp located along a river that rose more than 20 feet in less than two hours. It 'does not mean they are lost,' Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick cautioned, while Gov. Greg Abbott said that search and rescue operations will continue through the night. Throughout Kerr County, more than 230 people have been rescued or evacuated so far, many by helicopter, authorities said. Some areas saw a month's worth of rain in just a few hours overnight into Friday. Heavy rain is expected to continue Saturday.
Sky News
41 minutes ago
- Climate
- Sky News
At least 24 dead and more than 20 children missing from camp after Texas flooding
Why you can trust Sky News At least 24 people have been killed in the US state of Texas after heavy rain caused flash flooding, according to local media reports. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said between 23 and 25 of those missing were staying at a girls' camp in Texas after the Guadalupe River burst its banks at around 4am local time on Friday. The total number of missing is not known, Sheriff Leitha warned. As much as 10ins (25cm) of heavy rain fell in just a few hours overnight in central Kerr County, washing out homes and sweeping away vehicles. An official in the city of Kerville told reporters the flooding struck just before dawn "over a very short period of time that could not be predicted, even with the radar". Judge Rob Kelly, the chief elected official in the county, confirmed fatalities from the flooding and dozens of water rescues so far. The judge told reporters at a news conference that "most" of the bodies are yet to be identified. "We're trying to get the identity of these folks, but we don't have it yet," he said. As of Friday night, emergency personnel had rescued or evacuated 237 people, including 167 by helicopter, according to Major General Thomas Suelzer, the adjutant general for the state of Texas. More than 20 girls unaccounted for Emergency services are continuing a frantic search to find those missing - including the girls. The children were among more than 700 who were at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river, when the fast-rising floodwaters hit. Elinor Lester, 13, said she and her cabin mates were woken up by a raging storm at 1.30am and had to be helicoptered to safety. "The camp was completely destroyed," Elinor said, describing the situation as "really scary". Most of the campers are safe but they could not be immediately evacuated because high waters have made local roads unusable, authorities said. "Everybody is doing everything in their power to get these kids out," Judge Kelly said. "They could be in a tree. They could be out of communication," Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said. "We're praying for all of those missing to be found alive. We're doing everything we can to get in there." Unforeseen disaster Asked why more precautions were not taken amid forecasts for stormy weather, Judge Kelly insisted a disaster of such magnitude was unforeseen. "We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States," he said, adding, "We had no reason to believe this was going to be anything like what's happened here. None whatsoever." Later, US President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the floods were "terrible," adding: "We're working with the governor [Greg Abbott]." Drones and helicopters used in search Search teams are flying 14 helicopters and a dozen drones over the area, while hundreds of emergency personnel are on the ground conducting rescues. People desperately searching for their loved ones have posted comments on a Facebook post from the Kerr County sheriff's office. One woman said she couldn't reach her daughter, who had rented a cabin with her husband and two children. She pleaded for officials to release the names of those who have been evacuated. Annie Paynter posted that her nephew, who had been missing, was safe after "he was rescued from a tree he clung to for six hours". A man in Kerrville told local news outlet WOAI that his brother's house is missing after the flood, along with the brother, his wife and their two children. Officials said the number of dead could change, as rescue operations for an unspecified total number of missing people are still ongoing, and authorities were still working to identify the dead. It was not clear whether anyone unaccounted for might have ended up among the deceased victims counted countywide by the sheriff.
New York Times
an hour ago
- Climate
- New York Times
The most urgent alerts came in the middle of the night.
Early Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a broad flood watch for parts of south-central Texas, including Kerr County, warning that a slow-moving storm system was expected to bring anything from scattered showers to intense storms through Friday morning. Such warnings are common when conditions are favorable for a weather event, and are often followed by a warning when a dangerous event is occurring or about to occur. And that's what happened very early on Friday morning, when the Weather Service issued a series of upgraded warnings in quick succession. Rivers across the region were beginning to rise as storms dropped more and more rain — first, the San Saba River at 1 a.m. local time, and again at 5 a.m., followed by the Concho River and then the Colorado River, each of which are expected to keep rising slowly through the weekend. The Weather Service also issued warnings for flash floods as the storm's impacts were becoming more clear. Unlike a slowly rising river, flash floods are sudden deluges that can occur after heavy rainfall with very little notice. A little after 4 a.m., the Weather Service sent one of its most urgent alerts, a 'particularly dangerous situation' warning, reserved for the most urgent and potentially deadly scenarios. It is meant to grab attention, and is most often used when violent tornadoes are nearby, but also for floods and wildfires. The warnings are often shared on the Weather Service's social media accounts and broadcast by local news organizations. At 5:34 a.m. local time, a 'particularly dangerous situation' warning came for Kerr County: 'Automated rain gauges indicate a large and deadly flood wave is moving down the Guadalupe River,' forecasters wrote. 'Flash flooding is already occurring.' It identified Hunt, Kerrville and Center Point, all communities along the Guadalupe River, as places of concern: 'Residents and campers should SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! Life threatening flash flooding along the river is expected.' Other nearby areas, including Tom Green County, were also under these warnings starting a little after 6 a.m., one of which noted that 'law enforcement reported major flooding and very dangerous conditions across San Angelo,' the county seat. Another warning for the eastern portion of Kerr County as well as part of Kendall County came at 7:24 a.m. By then, reports were starting to emerge from the banks of the Guadalupe. The flooding hazards continued through Friday, though the storms were expected to be less intense as the day went on. Weather Service forecasters in San Angelo noted that because of the rain that had already fallen, even small amounts of additional precipitation could exacerbate the flooding hazards. A flash flood watch was in effect through parts of west-central Texas until 7 p.m. local time on Friday, and forecasters said isolated showers and thunderstorms were likely through the weekend. Observed rainfall
CNN
2 hours ago
- Climate
- CNN
In pictures: Deadly flooding in Texas
Torrential rain has caused flash flooding in parts of central Texas, killing more than 20 people. In Kerr County, more than 20 girls are missing from Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp located along a river that rose more than 20 feet in less than two hours. It 'does not mean they are lost,' Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick cautioned, while Gov. Greg Abbott said that search and rescue operations will continue through the night. Throughout Kerr County, more than 230 people have been rescued or evacuated so far, many by helicopter, authorities said. Some areas saw a month's worth of rain in just a few hours overnight into Friday. Heavy rain is expected to continue Saturday.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Latest on Texas flooding as 20 children remain missing
Catastrophic flooding in central Texas has resulted in at least 24 reported deaths and numerous missing persons, including 20 girls from a Christian summer camp. The Guadalupe River rose to nearly 35 feet, its second-highest on record, after up to 10 inches of rain caused flash floods in Kerr County. Governor Greg Abbott signed an emergency disaster declaration, mobilising state resources and calling in the National Guard to assist with search and rescue efforts. An RV park was swept away, and authorities responded to dozens of emergency calls, describing the event as a 'once-in-a-lifetime flood' for the county. Separately, storms in the Northeast US caused three deaths in New Jersey and widespread power outages and damage across New England.
