Deadly storm leaves path of chaos and destruction in New Jersey
The storm struck during the evening rush hour on the day before the Fourth of July. According to the National Weather Service, a wind gust of 62 mph was recorded. One-inch hailstones were reported near Bethlehem and Easton in the Lehigh Valley.
Gov. Phil Murphy confirmed the storms had killed residents and Accuweather reported three deaths.
In a post on X, Murphy said, "I have been briefed on the severe thunderstorm and heavy winds that hit Central Jersey this evening and resulted in fatalities. The towns of Plainfield, North Plainfield, Bound Brook, and Dunellen sustained damage, among others.
"If you're in the area, please stay inside and avoid any downed trees, power lines, or burning transformers. We are in close touch with local mayors and emergency response officials to provide support."
A state of emergency was declared in Plainfield. The city's Independence Day Parade, concert, and fireworks have been canceled.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: New Jersey storm turns deadly, cause damage and power outages
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CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Dozens dead in Texas after devastating flash floods slam Hill Country, officials say
Dozens of people are dead in central Texas in what officials called a "mass casualty event" after devastating flash floods slammed Hill Country, with water rescues taking place along the Guadalupe River. While officials couldn't confirm an exact number of those who remain unaccounted for, they said between 23 and 25 people are still missing. About 24 fatalities have been reported so far, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said Friday evening during a news conference, alongside Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and several other officials. As of Friday night, there had been 237 people evacuated, including 167 by helicopter, according to Major Gen. Thomas Suelzer, adjutant general for the state of Texas. Patrick said there hadn't been "a drop of rain until the tragedy struck" earlier in the day, and that the Guadalupe River had risen about 26 feet in 45 minutes. An alert went out around 4 and 5 a.m. local time, he said. Damaged vehicles and debris are seen roped off near the banks of the Guadalupe River after flooding in Ingram, Texas, Friday, July 4, 2025. Michel Fortier/The San Antonio Express-News via AP How did the Guadalupe River flood so quickly? Dalton Rice, city manager for Kerrville, explained how the Guadalupe River flooded so quickly. "When you look at the headwaters of the Guadalupe... there's a north and a south fork," Rice said Friday night. "Since 1987, under normal conditions, if you can call it that, you'll hit water in one of those areas, and those two forks will converge into the Guadalupe, which comes through the city of Kerrville." "This rain event sat on top of that and dumped more rain than what was forecasted on both of those forks," Rice continued. "When we got the report, it was about 7 feet or so on the south fork, and within a matter of minutes it was up to 29 feet, and all of that converged at Guadalupe." The Guadalupe River at Hunt reached its second-highest height on record, higher than the famous 1987 flood, the city said, citing the National Weather Service. A raging Guadalupe River leaves fallen trees and debris in its wake, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. Eric Gay / AP The Texas Division of Emergency Management had multiple meetings since Thursday to prepare, but the National Weather Service "did not predict the amount of rain that we saw," officials said, adding that the original estimate was up to 8 inches of rain. Officials said they were still concerned about the weather, adding that "if you do not live in area, do not come." Texas issued flash flood emergencies in five counties in West Texas on Friday as Hill Country continued to be slammed by severe rain and flooding. Between 5 and 11 inches of rain have fallen in northwestern Bandera County, Central Kerr County, Northeastern Tom Green County, East Central Kerr County and West Central Kendall County, according to the National Weather Service. A man surveys damage left by a raging Guadalupe River, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. Eric Gay / AP Search and rescue operations are ongoing There are hundreds of people on the ground from various units helping with search and rescue operations, officials said, which include drones and helicopters. "We brought in over 100 troopers this morning," Col. Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said during Friday night's news briefing. "And they've worked all day, rescues, high water vehicles, boats, rescue divers, seven rescue helicopters with hoist capabilities." The governor signed a disaster declaration for several counties during the Friday night presser, saying it "ensures all the counties will have access to every tool, strategy, personnel that the state of Texas can provide to them, which will be limitless." "We will stop at nothing to ensure that every asset and person and plane, whatever is needed, is going to be involved in the process of rescuing every last person and ensure everybody involved in this is going to be fully accounted for," Abbott said. A helicopter flies over the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. Eric Gay / AP First responders scan the banks of the Guadalupe River for individuals swept away by flooding in Ingram, Texas, Friday, July 4, 2025. Michel Fortier/The San Antonio Express-News via AP "Between 23 to 25" people still missing from Camp Mystic "We don't have an estimate" on how many people are missing, Sheriff Leitha said Friday night, adding that somewhere "between 23 and 25" campers were still believed to be missing from Camp Mystic. Earlier Friday, Patrick addressed parents of children at Camp Mystic, where there were about 750 children at summer camp when the floods hit. The lieutenant governor, who was acting as governor while Abbott was on vacation, said they are praying for all those missing "to be found alive." "If they are alive and safe, we will find them and bring them home to you," Patrick said during an afternoon news conference. Families line up at a reunification center after flash flooding it the area, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Ingram, Texas. Eric Gay / AP The camp said in a statement, read by Patrick, that there has been a "catastrophic level" of flooding. Patrick said Camp Mystic is an all-girls summer camp in the area that has several camps with thousands of children attending for the summer. The camp said they have no power, no water and no Wi-Fi , adding that "the highway has washed away, so we are struggling to get more help." A flood gauge marks the height of water flowing over a farm-to-market road near Kerrville, Texas, on Friday, July 4, 2025. Eric Gay / AP A man surveys damage left by a raging Guadalupe River, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. Eric Gay / AP Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said in a statement posted to social media, "Please pray right now for everyone in the Hill Country, especially Camp Mystic." He said multiple helicopters are performing search and rescue, and added that he's spoken with Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov Patrick, the head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management and President Trump. "President Trump committed ANYTHING Texas needs," Cruz said. Abbott said the state has mobilized resources to assist those dealing with the floods. "Texas is providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt and the entire Texas Hill Country dealing with these devastating floods," Abbott said earlier Friday in a statement. "The State of Texas today has mobilized additional resources in addition to the resources sent in preparation for the storms. I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
13 dead, about 23 campers missing amid 'catastrophic flooding' in Texas
Thirteen people have died after heavy rain pounded Kerr County, Texas, early Friday, leading to "catastrophic" flooding, the sheriff said. Children are among the dead, said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has taken on the duties of acting governor. There are several major camps in the area, and at one of them, Camp Mystic, about 23 of its 750 campers are unaccounted for, according to Patrick. "That does not mean they've been lost -- they could be in a tree, they could be out of communication. We are praying for all of those missing to be found alive," Patrick said at a news conference. Camp Mystic said in a letter to parents, "If your daughter is not accounted for, you have been notified. If you have not been personally contacted, then your daughter is accounted for." Up to 12 inches of rain has already fallen in Kerr County, about 60 miles north of San Antonio, with the rain ongoing through the evening. Dozens of people were rescued Friday morning and search efforts are ongoing, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said. "This came at night, when people were asleep in bed," Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring said at an earlier news conference, overcome with emotion. "Please pray for our community." The Guadalupe River in Kerr County rose a whopping 26 feet in 45 minutes, Patrick said. The river reached its second-highest height on record, surpassing a 1987 flood level, the National Weather Service said. While most residents should avoid traveling, "those near creeks, streams, and the Guadalupe River should immediately move to higher ground," the sheriff's office warned. At one campground along the Guadalupe River, people filmed videos of themselves evacuating when they noticed flood water encroaching under their vehicle. Other videos showed cars and cabins submerged. "I was up all night keeping an eye on weather alerts. 2am there was a river flood warning. The river was a good distance from our site, so we thought we would be fine," one camper, Katie, told ABC News via Instagram. "At about 5:30am, we heard banging on our RV door, yelling for us to get out now. The Guadalupe River had risen rapidly. We got the kids in the truck and were prepared to leave our camper behind if need be. We were able to hook up our camper and get it out too." "The river was up to the back of our campsite when we left. The river was raging and you could hear trees and objects breaking," she said. "It was a very scary situation, but we are very blessed by the workers at the park for waking people up and getting us out of there. Praying for everyone affected by the flooding."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Texas flooding updates: Death toll rises to 24 in 'extraordinary catastrophe'
At least 24 people are dead after heavy rain lashed Texas, leading to "catastrophic" flooding. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said emergency responders remained in a search and rescue posture, hours after the flooding along the Guadalupe River inundated nearby areas. "So many people have been swept up into an extraordinary catastrophe," Abbott said, asking for prayers for residents. Children are among the dead, and about 23 campers from a summer camp in the area, Camp Mystic, were unaccounted for, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at a earlier news 4, 10:42 PMNumber of people unaccounted for after Texas flooding remains unknown The number of people unaccounted for after devastating flooding in central Texas remains unknown, officials said. Speaking at a news conference, Kerr County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha said officials do not yet know how many people are unaccounted for. "It was a holiday weekend here," Leitha said. "We have a lot of campers here, and we do not know that number at this time." He said up to 25 campers with Camp Mystic, a girls' camp along the Guadalupe River, remained unaccounted for. Jul 4, 10:31 PMDeath toll in Texas flooding rises to 24 The death toll from devastating floods in central Texas has risen to 24, Kerr County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha told reporters during a news conference Friday sheriff did not provide an update on the number of people unaccounted for. Earlier, state officials said about 23 campers with a girls' summer camp remained unaccounted for. Jul 4, 10:26 PMTexas governor says search and rescue mission continues after devastating flooding Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state remains in a search and rescue posture hours after devastating flooding tore through central said two state search and rescue teams, the Texas National Guard and a host of other agencies are continuing to conduct rescues Friday night."They will continue in the darkness of night … They will be nonstop, seeking to find everybody who is unaccounted for," Abbott said during a news conference Friday governor signed a disaster declaration for the affected counties. Jul 4, 10:11 PMWhat we know about Camp Mystic, where 20 are unaccounted for after Texas floods State officials said during a news conference earlier Friday that 20 campers from Camp Mystic -- out of 750 total campers -- were unaccounted for after catastrophic flooding in central Texas on Friday. Camp Mystic is a private Christian summer camp for girls, according to the organization's website. Established in 1926, it sits along the banks of the Guadalupe River, which has seen devastating floods amid the heavy a brief note to families earlier Friday, the camp said: "We have sustained catastrophic level floods. We have no power, water, or wifi."The camp's office said campers on Senior Hill and Cypress Lake have been accounted for."If your daughter is not accounted for you have been notified. If you have not been personally contacted then your daughter is accounted for." Jul 4, 9:17 PMPhotos show flood damage, reunifications Photos from the scene of devastating flooding in central Texas show the debris-strewn banks of the Guadalupe River -- as well as emotional scenes of families being officials have confirmed at least 13 deaths so area hard-hit by the flooding is home to several major camps. At one of them -- Camp Mystic, a girl's summer camp -- there are 23 campers unaccounted for, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also showed families lining up at a reunification 4, 8:32 PMUS Coast Guard helping evacuate people from Texas flooding The U.S. Coast Guard is helping to evacuate people in central Texas from catastrophic Coast Guard "is punching through storms to evacuate Americans from central Texas," Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a post on X. "We will fly throughout the night and as long as possible," she an earlier post, Noem said she had activated the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to respond to the situation. Jul 4, 5:58 PMOfficial describes harrowing rescues Amid devastating flooding in Texas, first responders are working to rescue those stranded by the floodwaters. Evacuations of camps near the Guadalupe River were ongoing Friday afternoon, said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is performing the duties of the governor. There are 14 helicopters in the air, 12 drones and nine rescue teams. Swimmers are in the water rescuing children and adults who escaped the floodwaters by climbing trees, Patrick said. Jul 4, 7:29 PMAbout 23 campers unaccounted for, official says Children account for some of those dead in catastrophic Texas flooding, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told reporters are several major camps in the area near the Guadalupe River that has been overtaken by floodwaters and at one of them -- Camp Mystic -- about 23 of its 750 campers are unaccounted for, Patrick said."That does not mean they've been lost -- they could be in a tree, they could be out of communication. We are praying for all of those missing to be found alive," Patrick said at a news Mystic said in a letter to parents, "If your daughter is not accounted for, you have been notified. If you have not been personally contacted, then your daughter is accounted for." Jul 4, 5:39 PMAt least 13 dead, sheriff says At least 13 people are confirmed dead after catastrophic flooding in Kerr County, Texas, Sheriff Larry L. Leitha told reporters at a news conference to 12 inches of rain has already fallen in Kerr County, about 60 miles north of San Antonio, with more rain expected through the evening. Click here to read the rest of the blog.
