Latest news with #TexasGameWardens
Express Tribune
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
More than 160 people still missing days after deadly Texas floods
Boerne Search and Rescue teams navigate upstream in an inflatable boat on the flooded Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025 in Comfort, Texas. Heavy rainfall caused flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas with multiple fatalities reported. PHOTO: AFP More than 160 people remain unaccounted for after devastating floods in Texas, the state governor said, marking a dramatic increase in the number of missing from a tragedy that has so far claimed 109 lives. Four days after flash floods roared through several Texas counties, some in the middle of the night, hopes of finding survivors were fading -- and Governor Greg Abbott warned that the list of those unaccounted for could yet rise. "Just in the Kerr County area alone, there are 161 people who are known to be missing," he told reporters Tuesday as the grim search continued. "There very likely could be more added to that list," he said, adding that the figure was based on people reported as unaccounted for by friends, relatives and neighbors. Kerr County, part of a central Texas region known as "Flash Flood Alley," suffered the most damage, with at least 94 fatalities. That includes at least 27 girls and counselors who were staying at a youth summer camp on the Guadalupe River when it burst its banks as the Fourth of July holiday began in the early hours of Friday. Torrents of water swept through the camp, scouring cabins as hundreds of people slept. Five campers and one counselor were still missing as of Tuesday evening, according to Abbot, as well as another child not associated with the camp. "There's nothing more important in our hearts and minds than the people of this community, especially those who are still lost," Abbot said. Elsewhere in the state, there have been at least 15 fatalities recorded so far, the governor added. Ben Baker with the Texas Game Wardens said search and rescue efforts involving helicopters, drones and dogs were extremely difficult because of the water and mud. "When we're trying to make these recoveries, these large piles can be very obstructive, and to get in deep into these piles, it's very hazardous," Baker said. "It's extremely treacherous, time-consuming. It's dirty work, the water is still there." The US National Weather Service on Tuesday declared a flash flood emergency in Ruidoso, a small town 184 miles (296 kilometers) south of Albuquerque, in the neighboring state of New Mexico. Officials reported several people were trapped by sudden floodwaters, with multiple homes sustaining damage. The NWS said the Rio Ruidoso may have crested more than 20 feet (six meters). In the town of Hunt, the epicenter of the disaster, an AFP team saw recovery workers combing through piles of debris with helicopters flying overhead. Javier Torres, 24, was digging through mud as he searched for the body of his grandmother, after having located the remains of his grandfather. He also discovered the bodies of two children, apparently washed up by the river. Officials warned of more heavy rain ahead that could affect the search -- though Baker said it "won't deter" the efforts. President Donald Trump is due to visit Texas with First Lady Melania Trump on Friday. "We brought in a lot of helicopters from all over... They were real pros, and they were responsible for pulling out a lot of people," Trump said. Meanwhile, questions intensified over whether Trump's government funding cuts had weakened warning systems, and over the handling of the rescue operation. During an at-times tense news conference, Baker skirted a question on the speed of the emergency response. "Right now, this team up here is focused on bringing people home," he said. Shel Winkley, a weather expert at the Climate Central research group, blamed the extent of the disaster on geography and exceptional drought, when dry soil absorbs less rainfall. "This part of Texas, at least in the Kerr County flood specifically, was in an extreme to exceptional drought... We know that since May, temperatures have been above average," Winkley told reporters. The organization's media director, Tom Di Liberto, said staffing shortages at the National Weather Service had contributed to the disaster. "You can't necessarily replace that experience," he said.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Polly Wanna Cross The Border? 20 Parrots Nabbed In Texas Smuggling Fiasco
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Hidalgo, Texas, made an unexpected and noisy discovery: 20 undeclared parrots stuffed inside a single vehicle. According to a report from CBP officials, a 22-year-old woman driving a 2022 Chevy Traverse was stopped on July 7 as she attempted to enter America from Mexico. Officers flagged the suspicious vehicle for a follow-up inspection, during which they uncovered 20 large birds hidden in a bag inside the SUV. The woman, an American citizen, was immediately arrested. The parrots, which are protected under international and U.S. law, were later safely handed over to Texas Game Wardens, who transported them to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. Both Homeland Security and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have launched a criminal investigation into the woman's smuggling attempt. 'Our frontline CBP officers and agriculture specialists continue to maintain resolute vigilance amid heavy holiday weekend traffic and that mission dedication led to the interception of 20 parrots. CBP remains committed to preventing the exploitation of protected animals and the spread of animal diseases,' said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez. Parrots fall under strict import regulations due to their protected status under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The illegal transportation of these birds can carry serious penalties and pose public health risks, including the potential spread of avian diseases. As summer travel ramps up, CBP reminds the public that officers at all ports of entry, whether by land, air, or sea, are on constant watch for not only drugs and weapons but also wildlife trafficking. Smuggling exotic animals is a big enough business. In May, a woman pleaded guilty to federal charges after attempting to smuggle five diaper-wearing spider monkeys from Mexico into Texas, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Stopped on January 13 at Laredo's Port Of Entry, Priscilla Sanchez first claimed she had nothing to declare, but officers found the monkeys hidden in a warm, heavy duffel bag during a further inspection. She admitted knowing the smuggling was illegal and said she planned to sell the animals for profit. Sanchez could face up to 20 years in prison for the smuggling attempt.
Kuwait Times
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Kuwait Times
170 still missing after Texas floods
HUNT, US: Fears grew Wednesday that the confirmed death toll of 109 in the Texas floods could still surge as hopes fade for finding survivors among the many reported still missing five days after the disaster. More than 170 people remain unaccounted for after the flash flooding on the Fourth of July holiday, according to Texas Governor Gregg Abbott, marking a dramatic increase in the number of missing from a tragedy that has shocked Americans. Days after torrents of river water roared through several Texas counties—some striking in the middle of the night—rescuers kept racing to find survivors as Abbott warned that the list of those unaccounted for could yet rise. At a Tuesday press conference he said 161 people are known to be missing in Kerr County, the epicenter of the disaster, with 12 more unaccounted for elsewhere in the state. 'There very likely could be more added to that list,' he said, adding later on X. 'Right now, our #1 job is to find every single missing person.' Kerr County, part of a Hill Country region in central Texas known as 'Flash Flood Alley,' suffered the most damage, with at least 94 fatalities. That includes at least 27 girls and counselors who were staying at a youth summer camp on the Guadalupe River when it burst its banks in the early hours of Friday. Five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic were still missing as of Tuesday evening, according to Abbot, as well as another child not associated with the camp. Elsewhere in the state, there have been at least 15 fatalities recorded so far, the governor added. Ben Baker, with the Texas Game Wardens, said search and rescue efforts involving helicopters, drones and dogs were extremely difficult because of the water, mud and debris. 'When we're trying to make these recoveries, these large piles can be very obstructive, and to get in deep into these piles, it's very hazardous,' Baker said. The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast scattered storms on Wednesday in the Hill Country, including 'isolated pockets of heavy rain.' In the neighboring state of New Mexico, flash flooding on Tuesday left three people dead in Ruidoso, the village said in a statement on its official website. The NWS said the Ruidoso River may have crested more than 20 feet (six meters), based on a provisional reading. It would be a record, if confirmed. In the Texas town of Hunt, the epicenter of the disaster, an AFP team saw recovery workers combing through piles of debris with helicopters flying overhead. Javier Torres, 24, was digging through mud as he searched for his grandmother, after having located the body of his grandfather. He also discovered the bodies of two children, apparently washed up by the river. President Donald Trump is due to visit Texas on Friday with First Lady Melania Trump. 'We brought in a lot of helicopters from all over.... They were real pros, and they were responsible for pulling out a lot of people,' Trump said. Meanwhile, questions intensified over whether Trump's government funding cuts had weakened warning systems, and over the handling of the rescue operation. During a sometimes tense news conference, Baker skirted a question on the speed of the emergency response. 'Right now, this team up here is focused on bringing people home,' the Game Wardens official said. Shel Winkley, a weather expert at the Climate Central research group, blamed the extent of the disaster on geography and exceptional drought, when dry soil absorbs less rainfall. 'This part of Texas, at least in the Kerr County flood specifically, was in an extreme to exceptional drought.... We know that since May, temperatures have been above average,' Winkley told reporters. The organization's media director, Tom Di Liberto, said NWS staffing shortages had contributed to the disaster. 'You can't necessarily replace that experience,' he said. — AFP
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fears grow that Texas floods death toll could surge
Fears grew Wednesday that the death toll of 110 in the Texas floods could still surge as hopes fade of finding survivors among the many reported still missing several days after the disaster. More than 170 people remain unaccounted for after the flash flooding on the Fourth of July holiday, a tragedy that shocked many Americans. After torrents of river water roared through several Texas counties -- some striking in the middle of the night -- rescuers still worked to find bodies and any survivors as state Governor Greg Abbott warned that the final toll was not yet known. Officials in Kerr County, the epicenter of the flooding, on Wednesday confirmed 161 people were known to be missing in the county. Twelve others remain unaccounted for elsewhere in the state. "There very likely could be more added to that list," Abbott said Tuesday, later posting on X: "Right now, our #1 job is to find every single missing person." Kerr County, part of a Hill Country region in central Texas known as "Flash Flood Alley," suffered the most damage, with at least 95 fatalities including 36 children, Sheriff Larry Leitha told reporters. Among them are at least 27 girls and counselors at a summer camp on the Guadalupe River when it burst its banks early Friday. Five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic were still missing as of Wednesday, plus another child not associated with the camp, Leitha said. Elsewhere in the state, there have been at least 15 fatalities, according to Abbott. More than 2,000 rescue personnel, police and experts have descended on the flood zone in what Leitha described as an "all hands on deck" operation. Ben Baker, with the Texas Game Wardens, said search and rescue efforts involving helicopters, drones and dogs were difficult because of the water, mud and debris. "When we're trying to make these recoveries, these large piles can be very obstructive, and to get in deep into these piles, it's very hazardous," Baker said. Kerrville police officer Jonathan Lamb spoke of heroic rescues by authorities and volunteers who evacuated hundreds of people from their homes or vehicles. Officers went "door to door, waking people up" in Kerr County early Friday and in some cases "pulling them out of windows" of flooding homes and trailers, Lamb told reporters. The tragedy, "as horrific as it is, could have been so much worse," he added. The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast scattered storms on Wednesday in the Hill Country, including isolated pockets of heavy rain. In the neighboring state of New Mexico, flash flooding left three people dead Tuesday in Ruidoso, the village website said in a statement, adding the Ruidoso River rose to a record-breaking 20 feet (six meters). - Bodies in the mud - In the Texas town of Hunt, an AFP team saw recovery workers combing through piles of debris with helicopters flying overhead. Javier Torres, 24, was digging through mud as he searched for his grandmother, after having located the body of his grandfather. He also discovered the bodies of two children, apparently washed up by the river. President Donald Trump is due to visit Texas on Friday with First Lady Melania Trump. "We brought in a lot of helicopters from all over... They were real pros, and they were responsible for pulling out a lot of people," Trump said. Meanwhile, questions intensified over whether Trump's government funding cuts had weakened warning systems, and over the handling of the rescue operation. During sometimes tense news conferences Tuesday and Wednesday, officials skirted questions on the speed of the emergency response. "There's going to be an after-action" review of what happened, Sheriff Leitha said, adding "those questions need to be answered." But officials stressed that the focus now was on locating the missing and reuniting families. Shel Winkley, a weather expert at the Climate Central research group, blamed the extent of the disaster on geography and exceptional drought, when dry soil absorbs less rainfall. "This part of Texas, at least in the Kerr County flood specifically, was in an extreme to exceptional drought.... We know that since May, temperatures have been above average," Winkley told reporters. bur-chp/mlm/bgs
Hamilton Spectator
09-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Focus on first responders' mental health grows as death toll rises in flood-ravaged Texas
INGRAM, Texas (AP) — Riding on horseback through brush and over numerous dead turkeys, Margo Mellon spent Tuesday scanning the flood-ravaged ground of Texas' Hill Country for dead bodies. As she and her rescue mates trudged through the muddy terrain, state officials announced that more than 160 people are still believed to be missing. With countless miles swamped by the floods, nobody knows when the searches will end. The triumphs of finding people alive ended days ago, while the mission of recovering bodies that might include even more children is far from over. The grim undertaking has prompted questions about how first responders and rescue teams are able to mentally reckon with the work ahead. Mellon, a 24-year-old volunteer with search and recovery organization Texas EquuSearch that is a working with local fire departments, said for now she feels emotionally detached as she focuses on the task. But she knows the experience will be difficult to process once she returns home to Corpus Christi. 'I'll try not to think about it too much,' she said. 'I'll just think about the fact that at least the families have closure.' The flash floods deluged homes, campgrounds and an all-girls summer camp over Fourth of July weekend. More than 100 people have been killed, including 30 children. 'We process it the best we can,' Lt. Colonel Ben Baker of the Texas Game Wardens said Tuesday at a news conference after taking a deep breath. 'We're making sure they have the support,' Baker said of the search teams, adding that 'to see a child in that loss of life is extremely tragic.' Working on autopilot The discussion about first responders' mental health likely wouldn't have occurred a generation ago, experts say. And while first responders have higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological health conditions, most are able to process the heavy realities of the job. Nick Culotta, who was a paramedic in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, said people in the profession are able to compartmentalize and work on autopilot. Despite the challenges of recovering bodies, he said the work is crucial. 'It's definitely not the goal that you are hoping for,' he said. 'But just being able to give someone closure that their loved one was found can give us a sense of accomplishment. There are still people unaccounted for from Katrina.' Mental health challenges may follow, he said, which is why learning how to rest and get support is important. 'People will still continue to call for police. People will still get sick. Things will still catch fire,' he said. 'What's really important is understanding your limitations. And having resources available to use, whether it be an anonymous help line or a sit-down with a mental health counselor.' The importance of a strong support system The stresses of the job affect everyone differently, said Robin Jacobowitz, interim director at the Institute for Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz. A lot of it depends on what the first responder experienced previously, both on the job and off, she said. 'For these responders who are working in Texas, it's probably not their first incident,' said Jacobowitz, who co-authored a report on the mental health needs of New York's first responders. 'So what they're dealing with now is probably layered on top of what they have dealt with in the past. And those things add up.' Stress from the job can show up through sleeplessness, flashbacks or introversion, Jacobowitz said, as well as feelings of 'Could I have done more? Did I do enough?' Most will lean on friends and family as well as clergy or spiritual advisers. But because many don't want to burden them with what they've seen, they also lean on each other and mental health professionals. One of the biggest predictors of recovering from a traumatic event is the degree of social support a person has. 'Not every traumatic incident turns into full-blown PTSD,' Jacobowitz said. 'You may struggle with PTSD-like symptoms and then be able to work through them.' A growing emphasis on first responders' mental health There's been a marked shift toward acknowledging the mental health challenges of the job, said Ian Stanley, a University of Colorado emergency medicine professor. Much of the change has occurred in the last decade, pushed along by the growing focus on PTSD among veterans coupled with the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic on first responders, Stanley said. But there's still a long way to go because the issue 'hasn't been talked about for so long,' he said. Challenges include serving first responders who work for volunteer organizations or in rural areas where there are fewer mental health resources. The issue also hasn't been studied as extensively as it has among veterans and service members. Stanley stressed that most first responders are 'resilient to these challenges and live happy, healthy, productive, resilient lives.' But he noted that many of those recovering flood victims in Texas are in small communities. 'They might be recovering bodies of people they know or their neighbors,' he said. 'And that's really challenging.' ___ Finley reported from Norfolk, Virginia.
