Deadly and 'catastrophic' flooding unfolding along Texas' Guadalupe River: Updates
People have died in Kerr County and roads were flooding in Kerrville, a city of 25,000 people about 60 miles northwest of San Antonio, authorities said.
"This is a catastrophic flooding event in Kerr County. We can confirm fatalities but will not release further information until next of kin are notified," the Kerr County Sheriff's Office said. "The entire county is an extremely active scene."
Residents were urged to shelter in place and not attempt to travel. Anyone along creeks, streams and the Guadalupe River should seek higher ground, the sheriff's office said.
The area was under a flash flood warning and between 5 and 11 inches of rain had already fallen by about 9 a.m., the National Weather Service in Austin and San Antonio said. Another 1 to 2 inches could fall before the rain threat dissipates later in the afternoon, the weather service said.
"This is a very dangerous and life-threatening flood event along the Guadalupe River! Move to higher ground!" the weather service there said.
Earlier in the morning, the Guadalupe River at Hunt in western Kerr County had already reached the second-highest level on record at over 29 feet, surpassing levels of the 1987 Guadalupe River Flood at that spot, the weather service in Austin and San Antonio said. The 1987 flood killed 10 teenagers on a church camp bus and van on July 17 near Comfort, Texas.
In San Angelo, Texas, about 150 miles from Kerrville in the central part of the state, the weather service shared a photo of a flooded-out intersection with water reaching the level of road signs. The weather service office in San Angelo said it had received multiple reports of flooded roads and homes in Tom Green County, calling the conditions "life-threatening."
Officials in Comfort, Texas, issued mandatory evacuations for residents along the rapidly rising river, according to a post at about 8 a.m. local time.
"We regret to inform everyone that the flood situation in Comfort is not improving," the Comfort Volunteer Fire Department said in an update at 11 a.m. "We have sounded the flood sirens and urge all residents in low-lying areas of town to evacuate immediately."
Residents were instructed to bring necessary documents, medications, clothing and important valuables with them as they escape to higher ground.
Police and firefighters in Kerrville were helping residents evacuate, with a reunification center set up at a local Walmart and a shelter at a church.
The mayor of Kerrville, Joe Herring Jr., issued a disaster declaration the morning of July 4. Fatalities and missing people have been reported in Kerr County with water rescues ongoing, the city of Kerrville said.
"Search and recovery efforts are ongoing and will increase as the waters recede," the city said.
The city said it cancelled its Fourth of July celebration, "Fourth on the River."
(This story was updated to include video.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas' Guadalupe River flooding turns deadly and 'catastrophic'
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