161 people known to be missing in Texas floods as death toll rises to 109
'Just in the Kerr County area alone, there are 161 people who are known to be missing," Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said at a news conference Tuesday. 'We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for."
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump voices shock at devastating scale of Texas flood damage
US President Donald Trump spoke Friday of seeing devastation like he'd never before experienced as he toured parts of Texas hit by devastating flash floods that have left at least 120 people dead, including dozens of children. The Republican leader and First Lady Melania Trump were in the Hill Country of central Texas to meet first responders, victims' families and local officials, a week after a rain-swollen river swept away houses, camp cabins, cars and people. "This is a tough one. I've never seen anything like this," Trump said at a roundtable meeting in Kerrville, in the worst-affected Kerr County. "I've gone to a lot of hurricanes, a lot of tornadoes. I've never seen anything like this. This is a bad one." Trump lashed out at reporters for questioning authorities' response to the disaster and said he wanted to focus on solidarity with emergency workers and volunteers. "All across the country, Americans' hearts are shattered," said Trump, speaking at a table draped in a black banner with the message "Texas Strong." "I had to be here as president. The first lady wanted to be here." He compared the suddenly rising floodwaters to a "giant wave in the Pacific Ocean that the best surfers in the world would be afraid to surf." Earlier, the Trumps were met by Governor Greg Abbott near the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, in an area with numerous downed trees and an overturned tractor trailer. They were briefed by Texas Emergency Management and Kerrville Fire Dept officials, and greeted by 30 or so rescue workers and Coast Guard members. The search for more than 170 missing people, including five girls who were at summer camp, was in its eighth day as rescue teams combed through mounds of debris and mud. But with no live rescues reported this week, worries have swelled that the death toll could still rise. Trump has brushed off questions about the impact of his cuts to federal agencies on the response to the flood, which he described as a "100-year catastrophe" that "nobody expected." On Thursday, Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem, who was with Trump in Texas, defended the immediate response as "swift and efficient." But Texas officials have faced questions about why emergency evacuation messages to residents and visitors along the flooding Guadalupe River reportedly were delayed, in some cases by hours. Trump expressed support for a flood warning system in a telephone interview with NBC News on Thursday. - FEMA questions - The floods, among America's deadliest in recent years, have reopened questions about Trump's plans to phase out federal disaster response agency FEMA in lieu of greater state-based responsibility. FEMA began its response to the Texas flash floods over the weekend after Trump signed a major disaster declaration to release federal resources. But the president has so far avoided addressing questions about its future. Noem insisted FEMA should be "eliminated" in its current form at a government review meeting Wednesday. Officials in Kerr County, which sits astride the Guadalupe River in an area nicknamed "Flash Flood Alley," said at least 36 children were killed in the disaster at the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Details have surfaced about reported delays to early alerts at a local level that could have saved lives. Experts say forecasters did their best and sent out timely and accurate warnings despite a sudden weather change. ABC News reported Thursday that at 4:22 am on July 4, a firefighter in Ingram, upstream of Kerrville, had asked the Kerr County Sheriff's Office to alert residents of nearby Hunt to the coming flood. The network said its affiliate KSAT obtained audio of the call, and that the first alert did not reach Kerr County's CodeRED system for a full 90 minutes. In some cases, it said, the warning messages didn't arrive until after 10:00 am, when hundreds of people had already been swept away. The flooding of the Guadalupe River was particularly devastating for summer camps on its banks, including Camp Mystic, where 27 girls and counselors died. dk-ft/acb
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
As Kerr County leaders avoid alert questions, new audio surfaces in CodeRED timeline
KERR COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – Dispatch audio has surfaced from the critical hours before a deadly flood hit its height in Kerr County, helping piece together the timeframe local officials have yet to provide amid public scrutiny of their decisions on July 4. 'We still have water coming up,' an Ingram volunteer firefighter is heard telling a county sheriff dispatcher at 4:22 a.m. 'The Guadalupe Schumacher sign is underwater on State Highway 39. Is there any way we can send a CodeRED out to our Hunt residents, asking them to find higher ground or stay home?' LISTEN: Ingram volunteer firefighter calls Kerr County dispatch during deadly July 4 flood, requesting CodeRED alert. CodeRED is a notification system some agencies use to send emergency alerts to subscribers' cell phones. Online, the county encourages residents to sign up for the free service, which 'has the ability to notify the entire county or only the affected areas' about emergency situations – including severe weather – 'in a matter of minutes.' In the recording obtained by KXAN investigators from a credible source, the dispatcher then tells the firefighter: 'We have to get that approved with our supervisor. Just be advised we do have the Texas water rescue en route.' The timing of that request came more than three hours after the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning – at 1:14 a.m. – for a portion of the county and around 20 minutes after the federal forecasting agency warned of a flash flood emergency – at 4:03 a.m. – in the area. Sheriff hints at 'after action' review, as records reveal warning of 'worst-case flood event' It is still unclear at what time CodeRED alerts went out, as local officials have largely sidestepped related questions. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. told reporters the only CodeRED notification he received was at 6 a.m., indicating a flash flood alert or 'something to that effect.' Ceslie Armstrong, who identified herself as a San Antonio-based producer and journalist – and longtime Hill Country resident who is subscribed to CodeRED – provided KXAN investigators with call recordings and text messages she said she received during the flood. The first was a text received at 5:34 a.m., saying a 'The NWS has issued a Flash Flood Warning for your… location.' It was followed a minute later by a pre-recorded audio message, saying the same, adding to 'take immediate action for your protection.' CodeRED alerts from Kerr County on July 4 (Courtesy Ceslie Armstrong) Another person near the flooded area who spoke with KXAN shared a cell phone screenshot, showing a much earlier alert time with a voicemail left at 1:14 a.m. from a number traced back to CodeRED. It suggests inconsistencies in recipients countywide. Responding to CodeRED concerns during a Wednesday press event, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said an 'after action' review would happen after recovery and notifying victims' families. 'I know that's going to be asked over and over,' Leitha said. 'Please understand that… We're not going to hide from everything, that's going to be checked into at a later time.' On Thursday morning, officials updated the county's death toll to 96. A total of 161 people were still missing. County commissioners approved the use of CodeRED in 2009 for $25,000 a year. On the county's website, it states the 'system delivered pre-recorded emergency phone messages' when 'rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety.' Historically, the sheriff has had the ultimate authority on sending an alert to the public. KXAN is awaiting a response and fulfillment of records requests we made to the county and other local officials to better understand decisions regarding the notifications during this flood. On Tuesday, Leitha told reporters: 'It's not that easy, and you just push a button. OK? There's a lot more to that.' When asked if that happened, he responded: 'I can't tell you at this time.' Critics point to challenges with CodeRED using publicly available phone numbers and voluntary registration to send texts, voicemails and emails – meaning warnings may not reach all residents or visitors in a disaster area. However, the company behind CodeRED has explained it can also utilize IPAWS, the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System funded by FEMA – which alerts all phones in a geographical area, regardless of enrolling in the system. According to FEMA, 135 Texas agencies or entities use IPAWS, including Kerr County and the City of Kerrville. 'Each local jurisdiction independently determines their intended use of tools such as CodeRED as well as their local process to dispatch notifications and alerts using the tool,' a CodeRED corporate spokesperson told KXAN investigators. 'Local governments also determine whether to send alerts through IPAWS during the alert creation process within CodeRED.' In 2012, The Kerrville Daily Times reported 18,451 people had signed up for CodeRED alerts in the area. In 2020, county commissioners approved incorporating IPAWS into CodeRED, so that tourists could be reached even if they were not in the local database, according to meeting minutes and a video archive KXAN investigators reviewed. 'The easiest way to explain it is, say you're traveling through this area and we've had something happen here, it could still notify you if we send it out,' former Kerr County Sheriff William 'Rusty' Hierholzer told commissioners in a November 2020 meeting. Since last week's flood, officials have fielded questions regarding the effectiveness of CodeRED alerts in the county's rural areas where cell service can be spotty. Officials have also said many of the children at camps along the Guadalupe River did not have phones with them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wildlife rescue shelter takes in over 200 animals following Independence Day floods
AUSTIN (KXAN) – As Central Texas grappled with historic flooding over the Independence Day weekend, animal shelters discovered that rain wasn't the only challenge, but also supporting the animals the storm displaced. Austin Wildlife Rescue has taken in over 200 wild animals in the days following the Independence Day floods, bringing the total close to 2,500 animals currently on their premise. This is double what the organization, which spans across 40 Texas counties, typically takes in per day. Jules Maron, Austin Wildlife Rescue's executive director, said it's a common misconception for people to believe that wildlife can handle anything because they are 'wild.' 'When natural disaster or severe weather happens, it's not normal,' Maron said. 'People kind of focus on the 'natural' part of that, versus the disaster part that nobody is equipped to handle.' When intense rain downpours into the homes of wildlife, the flooding causes the animals to escape in any way they can. Animals get hit by cars more often because they're trying to escape their overflown nests, dens and dwellings, Maron said. The most common animals that room and board at Austin Wildlife Rescue are songbirds. Raccoons and opossums follow right after. Maron said that pediatric animals are frequent guests because they can't warm themselves up when they are drenched in water, unlike adult animals that can regulate their body temperatures. Austin Wildlife Rescue housed about 160 animals after the microburst in May. Despite providing housing and food for thousands of wildlife, Maron said they don't turn any away. 'I never like to say that we're at capacity, because we will not turn wildlife away,' Maron said. 'We have dedicated staff that [are] here to take care of them no matter what. We'll be able to make some makeshift caging and habitats on our porch.' As the Central Texas community continues to unite together, Austin Wildlife Rescue grows steadfast in their mission. 'Everything we do is to release this wildlife back into its native Texas environment,' Maron said. The rescue service releases animals at authorized sites that are at least 50 acres and host a permanent source of water. Because there is potential for current release sites to be destroyed from the flooding, Maron said they are always looking for more landowners to register. If wildlife is found, Maron encourages the public to call Austin Wildlife Rescue so they can assess the situation. 'Not every animal needs to come to us,' she said. 'We're happy to talk people through any situation that they're running into with any wildlife they may be encountering.' Maron said Austin Wildlife Rescue can't take all the credit. 'It's really [the public] taking the time and the compassion to bring these animals to us that need help,' she said. 'Nobody wants to see something suffer.' If interested in donating, Austin Wildlife Rescue accepts monetary donations, as well as purchases from their Amazon wishlist. The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter sprung into action over the weekend when flood-prone animal shelters were ordered to evacuate. They took in every animal from Georgetown Animal Shelter on Saturday, said April Peiffer, Williamson County Animal Shelter's community engagement coordinator. On Monday, they repeated the process for Lampasas Animal Shelter when it also had to be evacuated. Since Sunday, nine pets have been returned to their families, according to Peiffer. 'We basically do everything we can to make a reunion happen,' she said. 'For pets found in the Georgetown, Leander or Liberty Hill jurisdictions, we are extending our hold times to help those families be able to reunite.' Austin Pets Alive! has also joined the effort. This morning, around 130 dogs and cats were boarded onto a rescue flight to partnering shelters in Fort Worth and Utah. The purpose is to make room in overwhelmed Central Texas shelters as the number grows for lost and displaced pets. The goal remains the same: reunite. 'We know it might take days, weeks for reunifications to happen, but that's our top priority,' said Clare Callison, the senior director of operations at Austin Pets Alive! 'It's devastating if they go missing, even for a few hours. So I couldn't imagine losing your home, losing family members, loved ones, but also losing your pets, your family members as well.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
