Latest news with #TexasTaskForce1
NBC News
16 hours ago
- Climate
- NBC News
Heavy rains return to Texas 10 days after catastrophic flooding
Central Texas has once again been hit with heavy rain and flooding, prompting rescues and evacuations just 10 days after catastrophic flooding hit the region and killed over 130 people across the state. Over the weekend, rains returned to the region, inundating already saturated soils and halting search efforts on Sunday. Devastating floods were unleashed in the Hill Country region on July 4, when the Guadalupe River surged over 20 feet. In hard-hit Kerr County, 106 people were killed. Overall in the state, at least 132 were killed and over 160 remain unaccounted for. Six to 10 inches of rain fell over central Texas over the weekend, leading to more flooding, including along the Llano, Lampasas, and San Saba rivers. The Lampasas River, which runs through multiple counties, jumped 30 feet in less than five hours near Kempner, Texas. This morning, a flood watch remains in effect for central Texas, which includes Kerrville, Uvalde, Brady, Round Rock, and Austin. Heavy rain between Uvalde and Kerrville has already dropped three to six inches of rain in the past 12 hours. Rain is also expected to move towards Kerrville on Monday morning, with downpours expected across this region throughout the day. The slow-moving thunderstorms will lead to renewed flooding due to the already saturated soils. Over the weekend, Kerr County issued a Code Red Alert due to an excessive rainfall forecast. Kerr County was under a flash flood warning late Saturday into Sunday, and streets once again turned into rivers of fast-flowing water. Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday the state was making rescues in San Saba, Lampasas and Schleicher counties and evacuations were underway in Lampasas, Menard, Kimble and Sutton counties. He said Texas Task Force 1 rescued "dozens" from the Lampasas area. A flood warning is in effect on the Guadalupe River at Hunt on Monday as heavy rainfall moved into Kerr County and the Hunt area. In Kerrville, a flood watch is in place through 9 p.m. CT Monday. The river, as of 4 a.m. local time, was at 8.45 feet and is forecast to reach moderate flood stage around 11 a.m. CT, with a stage of 14.6 feet, the National Weather Service office of Austin-San Antonio said early Monday. "Seek higher ground along the riverbank," the weather service warned. At 4:30 a.m., the weather agency warned 'a dangerous situation' was unfolding across northern Uvalde, eastern Real, western Bandera, and southwest Kerr Counties after 2 to 4.78 inches of rain fell in the past three to four hours. 'More heavy rain is on the way. Flooding is already happening,' the agency said. Regarding the Fourth of July weekend floods, more questions are being raised about whether local officials could have done more to warn those in flood zones. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said he's unsure if he received an alert from the national weather service, which was sent around 1 a.m. on July 4. "I actually think I have my weather report stuff turned off if I'm being honest," Rice told NBC's Morgan Chesky. "Because one with my family, with first responders, again, I'm in it every single day. My phone stays on 24 hours, 7 days a week. We're in constant communication with emergency responders." "So whether my stuff is on or not is really a moot point because we have teams of experts that can navigate" these types of situations, he continued.
Arabian Post
a day ago
- Climate
- Arabian Post
Texas search efforts halted as fresh storms sweep Hill Country
Emergency crews have paused operations in Kerr County today following a new surge of torrential rain across Central Texas that renewed flood risks and prompted evacuations. Authorities withdrew search teams from river corridors, citing a high likelihood of flash flooding. The decision came as weather alerts signalled up to two inches of rainfall per hour in parts of Kerrville and along the Guadalupe River, overwhelming swollen tributaries and raising the threat level for crews working in the region. Sheriff's personnel and fire department officials issued door‑to‑door warnings and activated emergency alerts early Sunday to hasten evacuations from low‑lying zones and roads prone to overtopping. Statewide, the second round of storms extinguished search operations underway since the flash floods of July 4, which inflicted catastrophic damage across multiple counties and claimed at least 132 lives. Kerr County remains the hardest‑hit, with more than 160 individuals still unaccounted for. The weather's intensification halted searches for victims along the Guadalupe River, though crews managed to resume efforts later in the afternoon in western parts of Kerr County once conditions abated. ADVERTISEMENT Elsewhere, counties such as San Saba, Lampasas, Menard, Kimble and Sutton reported widespread flooding, forcing more than 100 home evacuations under mandatory or voluntary orders. In San Saba County alone, rising waters triggered mandatory displacement of residents south of the San Saba River, with expectations that it could crest beyond 31 feet, wreaking further havoc on infrastructure. Texas Task Force 1, along with local emergency services and volunteers, conducted numerous rescue missions, retrieving dozens of stranded individuals from RV parks and senior residences in Lampasas and Kimble counties. Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that 'dozens' more people were rescued Sunday as crews battled rising waters in San Saba, Lampasas and Schleicher counties. Amid ongoing emergency response, concern is mounting about the region's flood‑alert infrastructure. Kerr County has faced criticism for lacking independent warning systems; federal grant applications to install such systems had previously been rejected, and sirens or alert protocols were not implemented ahead of the July 4 surge. During Sunday's fresh rainfall, responders emphasised the need for improved systems as rivers threatened to swell unexpectedly. Meteorologists attributed both the catastrophic July 4 event and the present weekend downpours to a mesoscale convective vortex channeling tropical moisture remnants from Storm Barry. The July storms unleashed several months' worth of rainfall in mere hours, sending the Guadalupe River racing upward by more than 26 feet within 45 minutes and cresting at over 37 feet in Hunt. Sunday's rainfall, while less extreme, fell upon ground still saturated from the earlier deluge, prolonging flash flood conditions. Local communities are bracing for continued disruption. San Saba implemented mandatory evacuation in flood‑prone areas, sheltering displaced residents at its civic centre. Lampasas and Sonora authorities also opened emergency shelters and orchestrated rescues as water levels rose unexpectedly. Emergency teams — comprising helicopters, boats, drones, and ground crews — remain primed to restart search operations when it is deemed safe. The Ingram Fire Department has indicated that river corridor searches could resume Monday if water levels permit. Officials have urged the public to avoid river crossings, low‑lying roads and previously flooded zones until all-clear signals are issued. New Texas flood threat halts search for victims of deadly July 4 flooding
USA Today
a day ago
- Climate
- USA Today
New flooding hits battered Texas; water rescues, evacuations underway: Updates
Heavy rain and a new wave of flooding in central Texas on Sunday prompted swift water rescues and hampered the grim search for victims of the deluge that swept through the region more than a week ago, killing at least 132 people and leaving devastation in its wake. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said water rescues were taking place in San Saba, Lampasas, and Schleicher counties, and evacuations were ordered in several communities as well. "We are expanding operations in all affected counties − all while monitoring the rising waters in Kerrville," he said on X. "Texas Task Force 1 has already rescued dozens of Texans in the Lampasas area," the governor said in a later update. "They and other first responders will continue operations to prioritize saving lives." The city of Kerrville posted video on social media of water rushing across streets on Sunday. The National Weather Service warned on Sunday night that additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches were possible, with isolated amounts up to 3 inches. The agency extended a flood watch for Hill Country, the Interstate 35 corridor, and Southern Edwards Plateau until 9 a.m. local time on Monday. In Ingram, six miles east of Kerrville, the Ingram Fire Department warned residents to be vigilant. "We are seeing the same weather pattern today that we experienced on July 4th − and we know how quickly that turned deadly," the department warned in a social media post. "This is not entertainment. This is a life-threatening situation. Your curiosity puts your life, and the lives of our first responders, at serious risk." The confirmed death toll from the July 4 flooding had risen to 132 by Sunday night, including 106 in Kerr County alone. Kerr was one of more than a dozen counties listed in the weather service advisory. Developments: ∎ Abbott said swift water rescues were underway in Lampasas County, about 100 miles northeast of Kerrville: "We continue to monitor all counties with a focus on saving lives." ∎ The Kerr County Sheriff's Office issued a "Code Red" message Sunday. "This is not an evacuation, but a preparation notification," the sheriff's office said in the social media post. "Be prepared to evacuate along the Guadalupe River due to bad weather and flooding." ∎ A candlelight vigil planned for Sunday in Ingram was postponed because of the flood threat. No new date was announced. San Saba River rises to over 30 feet, local officials say The city of San Saba urged residents, especially those who live north of the railroad tracks close to the river, to be aware and prepared due to rising waters. Earlier on Sunday, San Saba County Judge Jody Fauley issued a mandatory evacuation for parts of the city, noting that the "river is rising faster than it did on July 4." The city said the San Saba River reached about 30.58 feet on Sunday after overnight and continuing rains. The city added that the Lower Colorado River Authority is "predicting the river to crest at 31.5 feet at midnight." In nearby Travis County, which includes the city of Austin, the Lower Colorado River Authority previously advised residents to use extra caution on the lakes and to avoid being on the lakes at night. The nonprofit public utility warned that debris from recent flooding was still an issue in parts of the Highland Lakes. "Bacteria levels typically remain elevated for a couple of weeks after flood events, and swimmers risk coming in contact with E. coli and other bacteria," the utility said in a statement. Travis County Judge Andy Brown also updated his order related to the closing of Lake Travis. The order now bans all recreational use of the waterways in Lake Travis upstream of Mile Marker 36 and upstream of Sandy Creek Park. County officials: 'Safety of lives is the highest priority' Most search and recovery operations along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County were suspended. Rescue personnel, equipment, and vehicles "should be removed from the river area immediately," county officials said in social media posts earlier Sunday. The Kerr County Sheriff's Office later said recovery teams could resume efforts in West Kerr. The sheriff's office noted that a flood watch remained in effect for the area. The flood watch was issued for Hill Country, the I-35 corridor, and the Southern Edwards Plateau, according to the National Weather Service office in Austin and San Antonio. The agency warned that excessive runoff may result in dangerous flash flooding of low-lying areas, rivers, and creeks, and low water crossings. "Monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings," the sheriff's office advised in an update. Noem says new FEMA rules did not delay response Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Sunday defended FEMA's response to the floods, saying this is the fastest in years that resources were deployed to help in a natural disaster. Noem, appearing on NBC News' "Meet the Press," denied that a memo she issued in June requiring her approval of all FEMA expenditures over $100,000 had slowed the agency's reaction to the tragedy. She also denied claims that FEMA call centers were not fully staffed. "Those claims are absolutely false," Noem said. "Within just an hour or two after the flooding, we had resources from the Department of Homeland Security there." Matthew Stone, who was clearing a storm sewer near his Kerrville home overlooking the Guadalupe River on Sunday, told the Associated Press that he had to pull his older neighbors from their home when floods hit on the Fourth of July. He said he hoped the situation did not become that drastic with the latest rains. Authorities in Kerr County have come under scrutiny over the timing of warnings and alerts prior to the July 4 floods. Stone said it was not an issue Sunday. 'We'll be all right,' he said. 'The cops have been coming back and forth. We're getting lots of alerts, we're getting a lot of support.' 'Sounds from that night will stay with us forever' In Ingram, six miles east of Kerrville, the fire department posted a synopsis of what life has been like since the floodwaters began roaring across the region in the pre-dawn hours of the Fourth of July. "It all began in the quiet of the early morning hours −3:15 a.m. − when we found ourselves pounding on doors, shouting into the dark, begging families to leave before it was too late," the Ingram Fire Department posted on social media, adding that "some families were able to make it out in time. Some didn't have the chance. And for others, the help came too late. "The sounds from that night − the screams, the rushing water, the calls for help − will stay with us forever. No training prepares you for the weight of witnessing so much loss. No uniform shields your heart from the human toll." Since then, "everything has been a blur," the post continues. Search efforts continue and won't stop "until every person is accounted for. We owe them that. We owe their families that." The item concludes with a request. "Please don't forget Ingram. Kerrville. Hunt. Center Point. Kerr County. We're still here. We're still fighting. And we're still holding on to hope." Kerr County braces for more rain The Kerr County death toll has risen to 70 adults and 36 children, according to the county's Joint Information Center. That includes at least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp. Scores of residents remain missing, although it was not clear how many might have fled to safety ahead of the disaster. And officials were bracing for more flooding issues. "There is an increasing confidence that rainfall totals of 1-3 inches could fall on what is already saturated ground," the county said in a statement on its website. The statement urged residents to watch for weather service alerts and to "stay safe out there." 'Mystic Girls' mourn camp kids, counselors who died The deaths at the camp has stunned and saddened the world. The mourners include the "Mystic Girls," as former campers call themselves. They remember the innocence of a place and time where they say they found the best version of themselves, a place that made them who they are. Allie Coates, now 25 and a social media manager in Los Angeles, still has a silver bracelet filled with charms from her time at camp, including an M for the most improved at canoeing. 'It was a safe space to be weird and awkward, where we could be silly and just be ourselves,' Coates told USA TODAY. 'Just to be girls.' Read more here. − Laura Trujillo Timeline a mystery for recovery of remains Past disasters of similar scope have left families waiting for months, years and even decades to recover loved ones, said Chris Boyer, executive director of the National Association for Search and Rescue. He pointed to Hurricane Helene, where at least five people, including Yevhenni and Novitnia, were never found. And two decades after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, killing more than 1,800 people, about 30 have yet to be identified, said Jason Melancon of the Orleans Parish Coroner's Office. For authorities on the ground, deciding when to call off search parties or shift them into full recovery mode is 'a highly emotional decision,' especially in more rural areas, Boyer said. 'There's no describing how to tell a family that you're done searching for their loved one and that they may never get the remains back,' said Boyer, who has led recovery crews in aviation disasters. Read more here.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Climate
- Business Standard
Heavy rains in Texas halt search for flood victims, damage homes elsewhere
More heavy rains in Texas on Sunday temporarily paused a weeklong search for victims of catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River and led to dozens of high-water rescues elsewhere as storms damaged homes, stranded motorists and put some residents under evacuation orders. It was the first time a new round of severe weather had paused the search since the July Fourth holiday floods, which killed at least 132 people. Authorities believe more than 160 people may still be missing in Kerr County alone, and 10 more in neighboring areas. In Kerrville, where local officials have come under scrutiny over whether residents were adequately warned about the rising water in the early morning hours of July 4, authorities went door-to-door to some homes after midnight early Sunday to alert people that flooding was again possible. Authorities also pushed phone alerts to those in the area. By late Sunday afternoon, the Kerr County Sheriff's Office announced that search teams in the western part of that county could resume their efforts. But more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) north in San Saba County, the floods damaged about 100 homes and knocked down untold lengths of cattle fencing, said Ashley Johnson, CEO of the Hill Country Community Action Association, a local nonprofit. Anything you can imagine in a rural community was damaged, she said. Our blessing is it was daylight and we knew it was coming. Latest flooding damages dozens of homes Gov. Greg Abbott said on X that the state was making rescues in San Saba, Lampasas and Schleicher counties and that evacuations were taking place in a handful of others. Texas Task Force 1, a joint state and federal urban search and rescue team, had rescued dozens of people in the Lampasas area, Abbott said. County officials ordered everyone living in flood-prone areas near the San Saba River to evacuate. Johnson said people were being moved to the San Saba Civic Center, which has become a safe, high place for people to receive aid and shelter. Everyone is in some way personally affected by this, she said. Everyone is just doing what they can to help their neighbors." A wide-ranging weather system brings heavy rains The weather system brought multiple rounds of heavy rains and slow-moving storms across a widespread area, pushing rivers and streams over their banks. Emergency crews rescued one motorist who was left stranded in waist-high rapids on a submerged bridge over the Bosque River and leaned onto the vehicle for support as crews tried to reach him with life jackets. He drove into it and didn't realize how deep it was, said Jeff Douglas, president of the McGregor Volunteer Fire Department. Luckily he was able to stand next to the vehicle. In the west Texas city of Sonora, authorities called for evacuations of some neighborhoods due to rising flood waters. In a video posted Sunday afternoon on Facebook, Mayor Juanita Gomez said some water rescues had taken place and a temporary shelter for residents had been opened in the city's civic center. Kerrville residents get support from police, alerts Under heavy rain, Matthew Stone was clearing branches and a log from a storm sewer in front of his home on Guadalupe Street in Kerrville on Sunday as several inches of water pooled up on the road. Multiple houses on the street overlooking the Guadalupe River were severely impacted by the July 4 floods, and Stone had to pull his older neighbors from their home before water overtook it. He said he felt safe for now. My wife was freaking out, that's for sure, but as long as that river is not coming down, we'll be all right, he said. The cops have been coming back and forth, we're getting lots of alerts, we're getting a lot of support. In nearby Ingram, fire department spokesman Brian Lochte said search and rescue efforts would resume Monday morning. Just before daybreak on the Fourth of July, the destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the Guadalupe River, washing away homes and vehicles. Ever since, searchers have used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. The floods laid waste to the Hill Country region of Texas. The riverbanks and hills of Kerr County are filled with vacation cabins, youth camps and campgrounds, including Camp Mystic, the century-old, all-girls Christian summer camp. Located in a low-lying area along the Guadalupe River in a region known as flash flood alley, Camp Mystic lost at least 27 campers and counselors. The flood was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, experts said, and moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Perth Now
a day ago
- Climate
- Perth Now
Search for Texas flood victims paused amid heavy rain
More heavy rain in Texas temporarily paused a weeklong search for victims of catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River and led to high-water rescues elsewhere as officials warned that the downpours could again cause waterways to surge. It was the first time a new round of severe weather had paused the search since the July Fourth floods, which killed at least 129 people. Authorities believe more than 160 people may still be missing in Kerr County alone, and 10 more in neighbouring areas. In Kerrville, where officials have come under scrutiny over the failure to adequately warn residents about the rising water in the early morning hours of July 4, authorities went door-to-door to some homes after midnight early on Sunday to alert people that flooding was again possible. Authorities also pushed phone alerts to those in the area. During the pause in searches, Ingram Fire Department officials ordered crews to immediately evacuate the Guadalupe River corridor in Kerr County, warning the potential for a flash flood is high. Late on Sunday afternoon, the Kerr County Sheriff's Office announced that search teams in the western part of that county could resume their efforts. The Ingram Fire Department would resume their search and rescue efforts Monday morning, agency spokesman Brian Lochte said. Governor Greg Abbott said on X the state was making rescues in San Saba, Lampasas and Schleicher counties and that evacuations were taking place in a handful of others. Texas Task Force 1, a joint state and federal urban search and rescue team, had rescued dozens of people in the Lampasas area, Abbott said. The latest round of flooding damaged about 100 homes and knocked down untold lengths of cattle fencing, said Ashley Johnson, CEO of the Hill Country Community Action Association, a San Saba-based nonprofit. "Anything you can imagine in a rural community was damaged," she said. "Our blessing is it was daylight and we knew it was coming." With more rain on the way, county officials ordered everyone living in flood-prone areas near the San Saba River to evacuate. Forecasters warned that the Guadalupe River could rise to nearly five metres by Sunday afternoon, enough to put the Highway 39 bridge under water in Hunt, the small town where Camp Mystic is located along the river. "Numerous secondary roads and bridges are flooded and very dangerous," a weather service warning said. The July 4 flood was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system.
