Devastating Texas floods kill 120, search continues for 170 missing
QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT WARNING SYSTEM Many are now asking why no early warnings were issued before the floods. Officials had discussed installing a $1 million flood alert system near camps and rivers, but the project was never funded. Sheriff Larry Leitha said the focus now is on finding victims, and questions will be answered later.Texas Governor Greg Abbott has requested that lawmakers approve new funding for warning systems and enhanced emergency plans. 'We must be better prepared in the future,' he said.President Donald Trump has promised full support and plans to visit Texas on Friday to meet the families and officials.In Georgetown, floodwaters from the San Gabriel River swept through RV parks. One survivor, Teri Hoffman, lost her home but managed to rescue her dogs and save the last photo of her late mother. 'Everything else is gone,' she said.- EndsWith inputs from Associated Press
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Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Trump visits Texas: US President in flood-ravaged state; gets briefed by emergency responders
US President arrived in central Texas on Friday to survey the catastrophic damage caused by flash floods that have killed at least 120 people, including dozens of children, and left over 170 missing. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Touching down in Kerrville - the heart of the disaster zone- Trump was accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The president could be seen meeting with first responders, local officials, and grieving families at a briefing site near uprooted trees and emergency vehicles. Wearing a white 'USA' ballcap, Trump received situational updates from emergency personnel alongside Governor Abbott, as reported by Associated Press. The First Lady, dressed in a khaki jacket, olive pants, and Converse sneakers, joined him in meeting rescue crews and posing for photos with hardhat-clad officials. 'I'm going to be with some of the great families,' Trump had told reporters before departing Washington, calling the floods a 'terrible thing' and a '100-year catastrophe.' Trump will also reportedly conduct an aerial tour of the worst-affected areas later today (local time) aboard Marine One. The flyover is expected to give him a firsthand view of the flood's toll, particularly along the Guadalupe River, which surged rapidly on July 4, sweeping away summer camps, homes, and vehicles. At least 36 children were among the dead, with 27 fatalities at Camp Mystic alone. Officials fear the toll may still rise as search efforts continue into their eighth day. While Trump has expressed support for installing improved flood warning systems, he brushed aside criticism that federal agency cuts may have hampered the response. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'The local officials were hit by this just like everybody else,' he told NBC News. Kerr County Commissioner Jeff Holt, who met the president Friday, said the visit sends an important signal. 'He's here to pledge federal support, like he already has with FEMA. That's what a leader does,' said Holt who also serves in the local fire department, as quoted by AP. Trump's visit comes as the response- including delayed evacuation alerts- faces scrutiny. A House Oversight Committee inquiry is underway, and lawmakers have requested records from FEMA and other agencies to assess whether staffing cuts or internal changes contributed to the crisis. The president has not directly addressed the future of FEMA, despite his administration's broader push to devolve disaster management to states. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the federal response as 'swift and efficient.'
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Devastating Texas floods kill 120, search continues for 170 missing
Flash floods in central Texas have turned deadly, killing at least 120 people and leaving over 170 still missing. The disaster has caused massive damage across the region, and rescue teams are working nonstop to search for those who haven't yet been found. The worst-hit area is Kerr County, where most of the bodies have been recovered so the Hill Country, people have set up memorials featuring flowers, candles, and photos to commemorate the victims. Among those lost were three friends celebrating the July Fourth weekend, twin 8-year-old girls attending summer camp, and a 91-year-old reported by Associated Press, on Wednesday night, hundreds gathered at Tivy Antler Stadium in Kerrville for a prayer vigil. Many wore green ribbons to honour the campers and staff from Camp Mystic, where at least 27 people died. Parents praised the teenage counsellors who helped guide younger kids to safety during the flooding. QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT WARNING SYSTEM Many are now asking why no early warnings were issued before the floods. Officials had discussed installing a $1 million flood alert system near camps and rivers, but the project was never funded. Sheriff Larry Leitha said the focus now is on finding victims, and questions will be answered Governor Greg Abbott has requested that lawmakers approve new funding for warning systems and enhanced emergency plans. 'We must be better prepared in the future,' he Donald Trump has promised full support and plans to visit Texas on Friday to meet the families and Georgetown, floodwaters from the San Gabriel River swept through RV parks. One survivor, Teri Hoffman, lost her home but managed to rescue her dogs and save the last photo of her late mother. 'Everything else is gone,' she said.- EndsWith inputs from Associated Press
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
Mourning Begins In Texas Where More Than 170 Are Still Missing From Flash Floods
Shock has turned into grief across Texas where at least 120 people have died from flash floods and more were missing as the search for victims moved methodically Thursday along endless miles of rivers and rubble. Photos of those who have died along with a colorful array of flowers and candles now decorate a fence in Hill Country - a growing tribute that reflects the enormity of the disaster in the region. The victims include three friends who had gathered for the July Fourth weekend, 8-year-old sisters who were at summer camp and a 91-year-old grandmother known for her sharp wit. More than 170 people have been reported missing, most in Kerr County, where nearly 100 victims have been recovered. The death toll remained at 120 Thursday. Authorities say they have carefully gone over the list of those unaccounted for but those numbers are often tough to pin down in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. More than 2,000 local, state and federal workers were involved in the search for victims. Stifling heat and mounds of trees, hunks of lumber and trash made the task more difficult. At a small shopping center damaged in the floods, people piled debris gathered from the rivers. Officials hope to eventually set aside personal items so residents find their possessions. On Wednesday, hundreds prayed, wept and held one another at a prayer service, among the first of many somber gatherings to come in the weeks ahead. "Our communities were struck with tragedy literally in the darkness," said Wyatt Wentrcek, a youth minister. David Garza drove more than an hour to support loved ones affected by the floods. "I'm from here, and I was here in the '78 flood and the '87 flood," Garza said. "I just wanted to be a part of this." Some at the service wore green ribbons for the girls from Camp Mystic, the century-old Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors died. Parents of children who were at the many summer camps in Hill Country have credited the teenage counselors with ushering campers to safety and helping keep them calm during the chaos. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called on state lawmakers to approve funding for new warning systems and emergency communications in flood prone areas when the Legislature meets later this month. Abbott also asked for financial relief for the response and recovery efforts. "We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future," he said in a statement Wednesday. Public officials in the area have come under repeated criticism amid questions about the timeline of what happened and why widespread warnings were not sounded and more preparations were not made. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha has said those questions will be answered after the victims are recovered. Local leaders have talked for years about the need for a flood warning system, but concerns about costs and noise led to missed opportunities to put up sirens. President Donald Trump has pledged to provide whatever relief Texas needs to recover and is planning to visit the state Friday. Polls taken before the floods show Americans largely believe the federal government should play a major role in preparing for and responding to natural disasters, which are becoming a growing worry. On Tuesday, a deluge in New Mexico triggered flash floods that killed three people. The devastation in Texas stretched from Hill Country all the way to just outside the state's capital. At least 15 people died in the Austin area and adjacent counties. Just north of Austin, floodwaters from the San Gabriel River swamped two RV parks in Georgetown. Teri Hoffman watched the water lift up her camper with her two dogs inside. "The camper just kind of goes over on its side and starts floating. And then all the other campers just started crashing into it," she said. Rescuers were able to save the dogs and she managed to dig out the last picture she has of her late mother. Everything else from the RV where she lived with her husband and children is gone, she said. "I couldn't look at it," Hoffman said. "I had to walk away." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
