Latest on Texas flooding as 20 children remain missing
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.
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The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
How to prepare your pets for when a hurricane makes it rain cats and dogs
Getting ready for a hurricane's landfall means making sure everyone in your household is prepared, including your furry family members. It's important that the work in gathering essential items for your dog or cat and determining if your pets have their ID tags and are microchipped is done before a storm is bearing down, said Julie Kuenstle, a spokeswoman for the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 'All of that stuff needs to be done in advance because you can't do that obviously if your pet gets away before, during or after a disaster. And that's heartbreaking because we know that our pets are our family members,' Kuenstle said. Put together an emergency kit for your pets Just as the humans in your family require an emergency kit with food, water and medications, pets also need one. Their go bags will be a little different and should include things like chew toys, leashes and poop bags. Kuenstle said it's also important the kit has hard copies of your pets' vaccination records that you can show if you have to evacuate and end up at a hotel or shelter. 'A lot of items that pet owners need and are essential for their go bags, they already have around their house,' Kuenstle said. Cesar Perea, the associate vice president of rescue for the American Humane Society, said people should also verify that their pets have ID tags on their collars and that the information linked to their pet's microchip is up to date and that multiple people are listed as contacts. 'If you decide you want to ride out the storm and stay, we wouldn't recommend that,' Perea said. 'But if they do, typically, we tell people that you should have at least two-weeks worth of (pet) supplies in your home.' Try to reduce your pet's stress Pets can sense any stress their owners feel as they prepare for a hurricane, Kuenstle said. 'When there is a disaster or storm, sirens, things like that, a natural fear response is for them … to hide and to run away. So, you know, making sure that your yard is secure and that they're in a quiet, safe, secure place can help avoid that,' she said. Animal rescue groups say it's important to have your pet crate trained so their crate can be used as a safe space for your pets. People who decide to stay and ride out a storm should keep their pets close, Perea said. Leaving them alone in another room 'is just going to elevate their stress,' he added. Never leave your pets behind Leaving pets behind, particularly if they're left tied to a fence or chained in a backyard, can be deadly. 'If the disaster comes along, they can't move away from it,' Perea said. 'The disaster rolls through and they suffer a horrific death potentially.' Abandoning your pets could also result in animal cruelty charges. The plight of a bull terrier named Trooper, who was rescued last year during Hurricane Milton after being found chained to a fence along a Tampa highway, inspired a new Florida law that imposes tougher penalties on people who abandon pets during natural disasters. Animal rescues are standard part of hurricane response Most emergency operations centers during a natural disaster focus part of their work on animal rescues, Perea said. But both Perea and Kuenstle said most pets and other animals needing rescue are not abandoned on purpose. During Hurricane Harvey in Houston in 2017, Kuenstle's group rescued about 2,300 animals, including cats, dogs and horses, reuniting about 300 of them with their humans. 'A lot of it was ... 'We had no idea we wouldn't be able to come back.' They were contacting us in a panic. They were concerned about their pet,' Kuenstle said. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 is filled with countless stories of residents not wanting to leave their flooded homes if they couldn't bring their furry loved ones, Perea said. ___
Sky News
24 minutes ago
- Sky News
Texas flash flooding: Dozens killed; girl, eight, 'living her best life' named among victims
We're pausing our live coverage We are pausing our live coverage on the devastating flash floods in Texas - thank you for following along. Rescued girl 'was on a mattress for hours' Texas Congressman Chip Roy has said that a girl was stuck on a mattress for hours before she was rescued. "One of my kids' schoolmates was missing. She was on a mattress for two to three hours in the middle of the night. She was reunited with her mom, and that's wonderful," he told reporters at a news conference. "These are the kind of blessings we should be celebrating while also mourning the loss of life as we identify those who didn't make it." Texas governor declares 'day of prayer' Greg Abbott has asked Texans to "join me in prayer" for those affected by the devastating floods. Two sisters died in Kerr County flooding, with grandparents still missing - reports Blair, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, have died after going missing during the flash floods in Kerr County, their father told CNN. RJ Harber said his parents, Charlene and Mike Harber, are still missing, but he believes that they are also dead. Blair was a "gifted student and had a generous kind heart", while her sister Brooke "was like a light in any room, people gravitated to her and she made them laugh and enjoy the moment", their father said. In pictures: Campers reunited with their families Campers and staff from one of the camps on the Guadalupe River, Camp Waldemar, have been reunited with their families. People were seen embracing their loved ones, with some shedding tears, at a reunification area. Unknown number of people missing Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said there could be more people missing in the region than the 27 girls unaccounted for from Camp Mystic. "We are kind of looking at this in two ways, called the known missing, which is the 27... We will not put a number on the other side because we just don't know," he said at a news conference. He said "hundreds" have been rescued from campsites around the Guadalupe River so far, and searches are ongoing. Authorities in Travis County said at least 13 people are missing. In Burnet County, a firefighter was among the missing after he was swept away by floodwaters while responding to a rescue, county Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio said. Some of the deadliest floods to hit the US in the last 25 years Flooding causes an average of more than 125 deaths a year, according to the National Weather Service. Here's some of the most deadly flooding to have occurred in the last 25 years... Hurricane Helene, 2024 Helene struck Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia in September 2024. The storm caused about 250 deaths, according to the National Weather Service. Kentucky, 2022 Raging floodwaters in eastern Kentucky led to 45 deaths in late July. The floods destroyed homes and businesses and caused significant damage to schools, roads, bridges and water systems. Tennessee, 2021 Twenty people were killed when creeks near the small Middle Tennessee town of Waverly overflowed, following 43cm of rainfall in less than 24 hours. Hurricane Harvey, 2017 Harvey killed at least 68 people when it swept into Texas in August 2017. All but three of the Harvey deaths were directly attributed to freshwater flooding, which damaged more than 300,000 structures and caused an estimated $125 billion in damage. West Virginia, 2016 It began as a rainstorm that seemed minor, but turned into a catastrophe that trapped dozens of people, ultimately killing 23 in the state. Superstorm Sandy, 2012 Sandy was a freak combination of a hurricane and other storms that struck New York and the surrounding areas in October 2012. It killed 147 people. Hurricane Katrina, 2005 This was the deadliest flood event in the past 25 years. Katrina caused nearly 1,400 deaths and an estimated $200 billion in damages, with people having to be rescued by boat and helicopter from rooftops. Death toll rises to 51 At least 43 people have been killed in the flash flooding in Kerr County, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a news conference. This includes at least 15 children and 28 adults, with five children and 12 adults pending identification. In nearby Kendall County, one person has died. At least four people were killed in Travis County, while at least two people died in Burnet County. A 62-year-old woman died in the city of San Angelo in Tom Green County. Tanya Burwick's body was found "several blocks" from her flooded car, local police said in a statement. Congressman 'reunited' with daughters evacuated from Camp Mystic Rep. August Pfluger said his daughters Caroline and Juliana were evacuated from Camp Mystic and "reunited" with his family. In pictures: It is now 12 hours since flash floods swept across Kerr County This is what it looks like on the ground.
Sky News
39 minutes ago
- Sky News
At least 51 people killed in Texas flooding as authorities face scrutiny over response
At least 51 people have died after heavy rain caused flash flooding, with water bursting from the banks of the Guadalupe River in Texas. The overflowing water began sweeping into Kerr County and other areas around 4am local time on Friday, killing at least 43 people in the county. This includes at least 15 children and 28 adults, with five children and 12 adults pending identification, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a news conference. In nearby Kendall County, one person has died. At least four people were killed in Travis County, while at least two people died in Burnet County. Another person has died in the city of San Angelo in Tom Green County. An unknown number of people remain missing, including 27 girls from Camp Mystic in Kerr County, a Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River. Rescuers have already saved hundreds of people and would work around the clock to find those still unaccounted for, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said. But as rescue teams are searching for the missing, Texas officials are facing scrutiny over their preparations and why residents and summer camps for children that are dotted along the river were not alerted sooner or told to evacuate. AccuWeather said the private forecasting company and the National Weather Service (NWS) sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation, urging people to move to higher ground and evacuate flood-prone areas. The NWS later issued flash flood emergencies - a rare alert notifying of imminent danger. "These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety," AccuWeather said in a statement that called Texas Hill County one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the US because of its terrain and many water crossings. But one NWS forecast earlier in the week had called for up to six inches of rain, said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management."It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw," he said. Officials said they had not expected such an intense downpour of rain, equivalent to months' worth in a few short hours, insisting that no one saw the flood potential coming. One river near Camp Mystic rose 22ft in two hours, according to Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the NWS's Austin/San Antonio office. The gauge failed after recording a level of 29.5ft. "People, businesses, and governments should take action based on Flash Flood Warnings that are issued, regardless of the rainfall amounts that have occurred or are forecast," Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather, said in a statement. "We know we get rain. We know the river rises," said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's top elected official. "But nobody saw this coming." Judge Kelly said the county considered a flood warning system along the Guadalupe River that would have functioned like a tornado warning siren about six or seven years ago, before he was elected, but that the idea never got off the ground because "the public reeled at the cost". Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was asked during a news conference on Saturday whether the flash flood warnings came through quickly enough: "We know that everyone wants more warning time, and that is why we are working to upgrade the technologies that have been neglected for far too long." Presidential cuts to climate and weather organisations have also been criticised in the wake of the floods after Donald Trump 's administration ordered 800 job cuts at the science and climate organisation NOAA, the parent organisation of the NWS, which predicts and warns about extreme weather like the Texas floods. A 30% cut to its budget is also in the pipeline, subject to approval by Congress. Professor Costa Samaras, who worked on energy policy at the White House under President Joe Biden, said NOAA had been in the middle of developing new flood maps for neighbourhoods and that cuts to NOAA were "devastating". "Accurate weather forecasts matter. FEMA and NOAA matter. Because little girls' lives matter," said Frank Figliuzzi, a national security and intelligence analyst at Sky's US partner organisation NBC News.
