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Daily Maverick
19 minutes ago
- Climate
- Daily Maverick
Death toll from Texas floods reaches 67, including 21 children
Death toll expected to rise 11 girls and a counselor still missing from summer camp More rain expected on Sunday By Sergio Flores, Rich McKay and Tim Reid Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, the epicenter of the flooding, said the death toll in Kerr County had reached 59, including the 21 children. Leitha said 11 girls and a counselor remained missing from a summer camp near the Guadalupe River, which broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday, the U.S. Independence Day holiday. A Travis County official said four people had died from the flooding there, with 13 unaccounted for, and officials reported another death in Kendall County. The Burnet County Sheriff's office reported two fatalities. A woman was found dead in her submerged car in the city of San Angelo in Tom Green County, the police chief said. Leitha said there were 18 adults and four children still pending identification in Kerr County. He did not say if those 22 individuals were included in the death count of 59. Officials said on Saturday that more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain across the region, about 85 miles (140 km) northwest of San Antonio. It was unclear exactly how many people in the area were still missing. 'Everyone in the community is hurting,' Leitha told reporters. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and advisories for central Texas that were to last until 4:15 p.m. local time (2115 GMT) as rains fell, potentially complicating rescue efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on Sunday and is deploying resources to first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. United States Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, DHS said. Trump has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves. Some experts questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the Trump administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings ahead of the storm. Trump's administration has overseen thousands of job cuts from the National Weather Service's parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leaving many weather offices understaffed, said former NOAA director Rick Spinrad. He said he did not know if those staff cuts factored into the lack of advance warning for the extreme Texas flooding, but that they would inevitably degrade the agency's ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees NOAA, said a 'moderate' flood watch issued on Thursday by the National Weather Service had not accurately predicted the extreme rainfall and said the Trump administration was working to upgrade the system. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from Texas, told CNN's 'State of the Union' that fewer personnel at the weather service could be dangerous. 'When you have flash flooding, there's a risk that if you don't have the personnel… to do that analysis, do the predictions in the best way, it could lead to tragedy,' Castro said. 'COMPLETE DEVASTATION' The 11 missing girls and the counselor were from the Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian girls camp, which had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flood. Katharine Somerville, a counselor on the Cypress Lake side of Camp Mystic, on higher ground than the Guadalupe River side, said her 13-year-old campers were scared as their cabins suffered damage and lost power in the middle of the night. 'Our cabins at the tippity top of hills were completely flooded with water. I mean, y'all have seen the complete devastation, we never even imagined that this could happen,' she said in an interview on Fox News on Sunday. She said the campers in her care were put on military trucks and evacuated, and that all were safe. The disaster unfolded rapidly on Friday morning as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as 29 feet (9 meters). A day after the disaster struck, the summer camp was a scene of devastation. Inside one cabin, mud lines indicating how high the water had risen were at least six feet (1.83 m) from the floor. Bed frames, mattresses and personal belongings caked with mud were scattered inside. Some buildings had broken windows, one had a missing wall. Somerville, who attended Camp Mystic as a child, lauded longtime camp director Richard 'Dick' Eastland, who died while trying to save girls at the camp, according to local media reports. (Reporting by Sergio Flores in Hunt, Texas and Rich McKay in Atlanta; Additional reporting by Marco Bello and Sandra Stojanovic in Comfort, Texas; Deborah Gembara in Washington; Ryan Jones and Bhargav Acharya in Toronto; Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; and Nathan Layne in New York. Writing by Tim Reid; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Diane Craft)
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
Search for Texas flood victims enters third day as more rain forecast
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A search dog working at Camp Mystic, after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, on July 5. HUNT, Texas - The search for over two dozen children missing from a girls' summer camp hit by flash floods in Texas entered a third day on July 6 as rescuers faced the threat of more flooding and the death toll in the region reached at least 50. Search and rescue teams raced to find 27 girls missing from a camp near the Guadalupe River, which broke its banks after torrential rain fell in central Texas on July 4, the US Independence Day holiday. Officials said more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 38cm of rain across Texas Hill Country, about 140km north-west of San Antonio. It was unclear exactly how many people in the area were still missing. Some experts questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the Trump administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings ahead of the storm. President Donald Trump and his administration have overseen thousands of job cuts from the National Weather Service's parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leaving many weather offices understaffed, said former NOAA director Rick Spinrad. He said he did not know if those staff cuts factored into the lack of advance warning for the extreme Texas flooding, but that they would inevitably degrade the agency's ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees NOAA, said a 'moderate' flood watch issued on July 3 by the National Weather Service had not accurately predicted the extreme rainfall and said the Trump administration was working to upgrade the system. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July HDB launch World Tariffs will kick in on Aug 1 barring trade deals: US Treasury Secretary Singapore Woman on SMRT's 190 bus injured after bottle thrown at vehicle leaves hole in window Business Great Eastern says Takeover Code not breached when it shared IFA valuation with OCBC Asia 'Don't be seen in India again': Indian nationals pushed into Bangladesh at gunpoint Asia Thousands evacuated as Typhoon Danas lashes Taiwan Asia Two women fatally stabbed at bar in Japan by man Life Star Awards 2025: Christopher Lee wins big, including Special Achievement Award and Best Actor The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mr Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from Texas, told CNN's State Of The Union that fewer personnel at the weather service could be dangerous. 'When you have flash flooding, there's a risk that if you don't have the personnel... to do that analysis, do the predictions in the best way, it could lead to tragedy,' Mr Castro said. More rain was expected in the area on July 6. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Kerr County, the epicentre of the disaster, until 1pm local time. The disaster unfolded rapidly on the morning of July 4 as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as 9m. Items scattered inside a cabin at Camp Mystic after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, on July 5. PHOTO: REUTERS Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, told a press conference on July 5 he had asked Mr Trump to sign a disaster declaration, which would unlock federal aid for those affected. Ms Noem said Mr Trump would honour that request. Mr Trump has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves. At least 15 of the confirmed dead are children, local officials said. The 27 missing girls were from the Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian girls camp, which had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flood. Families waiting to hear news of their loved ones in Kerville, Texas, on July 5. PHOTO: REUTERS A day after the disaster struck, the camp was a scene of devastation. Inside one cabin, mud lines indicating how high the water had risen were at least 1.83m from the floor. Bed frames, mattresses and personal belongings caked with mud were scattered inside. Some buildings had broken windows, one had a missing wall. REUTERS
CTV News
an hour ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Chantal weakens to a tropical depression but raises concerns of flash flooding in North Carolina
This image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Tropical Storm Chantal as it moves from South Carolina into central North Carolina on Sunday, July 6, 2025. (NOAA via AP) MIAMI — Tropical Storm Chantal was downgraded to a depression Sunday but raised concerns of possible flash flooding as it makes its way into central and eastern North Carolina. Chantal made landfall near Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, at about 4 a.m. EDT Sunday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. At 11 a.m., it was located about 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of Wilmington, North Carolina, and was moving north at 9 mph (14 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (56 kph). The system was expected to turn to the northeast late Sunday as it weakens further. The hurricane center canceled tropical storm warnings for portions of the two Carolinas. But heavy rain was forecast for parts of North Carolina through Monday, with total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) and local amounts up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) that could lead to flash flooding. Forecasters said dangerous surf and rip currents at beaches from northeastern Florida to the mid-Atlantic states are expected to last for the next couple of days. South Carolina's Emergency Management division had warned residents earlier of the possibility of isolated tornadoes along the coast and of minor coastal flooding. It also warned drivers not to venture on water-covered roads or around road-closure signs where flooding occurred. The Associated Press
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Donald Trump signs a major disaster declaration for the flooded Kerr County in Texas, says that over 850 lives have been saved
Flash floods have been ravaging Texas since the past couple of days, with at least 68 people having died as a result. Kerr County in particular has been among the worst hit regions, with 38 adults and 21 children having perished just from there. The scale of the disaster has prompted President Donald Trump to directly speak out and intervene. As he revealed on Truth Social, he's issued a major disaster declaration for Kerr County in order to enable the first responders to receive the resources they need, and claimed that over 850 lives had already been saved. Trump said that the families in Texas were enduring an unimaginable tragedy, and stated that Kristi Noem from the Department of Homeland Security was on the ground working with Texas governor Greg Abbott to manage the situation. The Texas flash floods have severely hit Kerr County Kerr County is located on the Edwards Plateau, and was named after congressman James Kerr, who was a public servant in Texas during the 19th century. The flash floods began during Independence Day weekend, and Kerr County has borne the brunt of the lives lost in this natural disaster. In the wake of the floods, Kerrville mayor Don Herring Jr spoke to the press and said that the city council's goal was to save whoever they possibly could. Furthermore, city manager Dalton Rice warned individual residents from taking matters into their own hands by flying their personal drones over the disaster-ravaged areas. He said that their presence could be a detriment to ongoing rescue operations. Questions are being raised about the lack of preparedness Good morning and Happy Sunday to everyone who isn't surprised that trump had DOGE cut funding on NOAA and NWS, weakening storm forecasts — we saw him trash Obama's pandemic readiness plans before COVID also caught us is disastrously In the wake of this flash flooding disaster, people have raised questions about why Texas wasn't better prepared for such an eventuality. City manager Dalton Rice himself had to field questions from the press who asked him why Kerrville residents weren't evacuated sooner. Donald Trump's critics have also seized upon the flash floods as an opportunity to condemn the President, along with Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), for laying off around 10% of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) workforce, which also impacted the National Weather Service (NWS).
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Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Business Standard
As the world warms up, extreme rain is becoming even more extreme
Raymond Zhong Colossal bursts of rain like the ones that caused the deadly flooding in Texas are becoming more frequent and intense around the globe as the burning of fossil fuels heats the planet, scientists say. Warm air holds more moisture than cool air, and as temperatures rise, storms can produce bigger downpours. When met on the ground with outdated infrastructure or inadequate warning systems, the results can be catastrophic. These were the ingredients for tragedy in Texas, a state that is well acquainted with weather extremes of all kinds: high heat and deep cold, deluges and droughts, tornadoes and hurricanes, hail and snow. Indeed, the hill country, the part of the state where the Guadalupe river swelled on Friday, is sometimes called 'flash flood alley' for how at risk it is to seemingly out-of-nowhere surges of water. Humid air blows into the area from two main sources, the Gulf of Mexico and the tropical Pacific Ocean. When this air collides with cool air drifting down across the Great Plains, severe storms can erupt. The hilly terrain and steep canyons quickly funnel the rain into river valleys, transforming lazy streams into roaring cascades. In parts of Texas that were flooded on Friday, the quantities of rain that poured down in a six-hour stretch were so great that they had less than a tenth of 1 percent chance of falling there in any given year, according to data analysed by Russ Schumacher, a professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University. The Guadalupe river rose from three feet to 34 feet in about 90 minutes, according to data from a river gauge near the town of Comfort, Texas. The volume of water exploded from 95 cubic feet per second to 166,000 cubic feet per second. And the warming climate is creating the conditions in Texas for more of these sharp, deadly deluges. In the eastern part of the state, the number of days per year with at least two inches of rain or snow has increased by 20 percent since 1900, according to the most recent National Climate Assessment, the federal government's flagship report on how global warming is affecting the United States. Across Texas, the intensity of extreme rain could increase another 10 percent by 2036, according to a report last year by John Nielsen-Gammon, the Texas state climatologist. To understand patterns of heavy rain at a more local level, communities and officials rely on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agency has for decades published nationwide estimates of the probabilities of various precipitation events — that is, a certain number of inches falling in a particular location over a given amount of time, from five minutes to 24 hours to 60 days. Engineers use NOAA's estimates to design storm drains and culverts. City planners use them to guide development and regulations in flood-prone areas. NOAA's next updates to the estimates are scheduled to be released starting next year. For the first time, they are expected to include projections of how extreme precipitation will evolve as the climate changes, in order to help officials plan further ahead. But in recent months, the Trump administration has cut staff at the agency and at the National Weather Service, which sits within NOAA. The administration has also dismissed the hundreds of experts who had been compiling the next edition of the National Climate Assessment, which was scheduled to come out in 2028. And it is proposing deep cuts to NOAA's 2026 budget, including eliminating the office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, which conducts and coordinates climate research.
