Texas to face more life-threatening floods? Warning issued amid disaster
This warning comes as crews are working to find more survivors, even though the outlook seems bleak. Authorities are facing growing questions about whether they had issued enough warnings in areas that have long been vulnerable to flooding. Questions are also being raised about whether enough preparations were made.
Donald Trump signs major disaster declaration
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County on Sunday, activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Texas. Trump said he might visit on Friday. "I would have done it today, but we'd just be in their way," he told reporters before boarding Air Force One back to Washington after spending the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster. "It's a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible."
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, 'I just signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need. These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing. The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was on the ground yesterday with Governor Greg Abbott, who is working hard to help the people of his Great State. Our incredible U.S. Coast Guard, together with State First Responders, have saved more than 850 lives. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!'
Abbott has promised that authorities will work around the clock, and declared Sunday a day of prayer for the state. "I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday — for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines," he said in a statement.
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News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Texas Floods: Over 80 Dead, Including 28 Children, As Search For Missing Continues
Last Updated: The floods were triggered by an unprecedented downpour, reports indicate rainfall may have reached up to 15 inches in under an hour Rescue teams in central Texas are racing to locate dozens still missing after flash floods swept through the region, claiming the lives of more than 80 people, including 28 children. Local authorities have warned that further rain could bring more devastation. In Kerr County—the hardest-hit area—Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed the deaths of 68 people, among them 28 children, all victims of the Saturday morning deluge. Nearby counties in south-central Texas reported at least 14 more fatalities. Across the state, 41 individuals are known to be missing, Governor Greg Abbott announced. Teams deployed 17 helicopters and drones alongside ground crews in the search, focusing especially on Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River. The camp, which sheltered around 750 people, was struck when floodwaters surged overnight, sweeping away cabins and campers. Ten girls and a counsellor remain unaccounted for at the site. Over 850 residents across the region have been rescued so far. Emergency services, including boats, helicopters, and drones, continue to patrol flooded rivers and debris-laden terrain, contending with searing heat, snakes, and unstable ground. The floods were triggered by an unprecedented downpour, reports indicate rainfall may have reached up to 15 inches in under an hour. This caused the normally placid Guadalupe River to rise by as much as 26 feet in mere minutes, engulfing nearby towns. Governor Abbott has called for a review of local warning systems and flood forecasting accuracy. Some residents have raised concerns about whether the event could have been anticipated more effectively. When asked about reports that budget cuts had impacted the National Weather Service (NWS), Trump said he would not consider rehiring meteorologists. He also declined to confirm whether he would reverse plans to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), saying, 'FEMA is something we can talk about later." Despite his previous stance that disaster response should be handled at the state level, Trump signed a major disaster declaration on Sunday, authorising federal assistance and activating FEMA to support rescue and relief operations in Texas. (With inputs from AFP)
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Tropical storm Chantal hurricane weakens but still poses big threat to North Carolina. NHC issues urgent travel warning
Tropical storm Chantal made landfall on the East on Sunday, impacting millions of Carolians. The storm has prompted flash flood warnings as it brought heavy rain and winds to coastal areas. Chantal was downgraded to a depression on Sunday after making landfall but continues to pose significant risks of flash flooding across central and eastern North Carolina, according to NewsWeek. ALSO READ: Texas flood horror: Trump planning to re-hire fired meteorologists after devastating tragedy kills 82? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Tropical storm Chantal hurricane Flood watches were issued for central North Carolina and south-central Virginia through Monday, with total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) and local amounts up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) that could lead to flash flooding, the hurricane center said. Forecasters said dangerous surf and rip currents at beaches from northeastern Florida to the mid-Atlantic states are expected to last for the next couple of days. As the intensity of the storm lessened, heavy rainfall and dangerous surf conditions remained a threat from the coastal Carolinas as far north as the Mid-Atlantic states. Though the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) cancelled tropical storm warnings for the region but it has advised that rainfall in some pockets could reach up to 6 inches, increasing the threat for flash floods and dangerous travel conditions on Sunday and Monday. Live Events "The Haw River at Bynum in Chatham County is now forecast to crest near 21.2 feet at around 8 a.m. Monday morning," said Jonathan Blaes of the National Weather Service on Sunday night. "At 9:31 p.m., the river was at 17.0 feet and the river had surged up more than 4 feet during the past hour and 7.7 feet over the past two hours. This crest is just below the all-time crest or flood of record of 21.8 feet set during Hurricane Fran." ALSO READ: Melania's unexpected praise for Taylor Swift amid Donald Trump's sharp criticism of American singer Risk of flash floods in Carolina? Even though Chantal has weakened, millions of people still remain in the affected zone and their lives might be at stake. Heavy rains on already saturated grounds heighten the risk of flash flooding, particularly near rivers and low-lying areas of North Carolina. Accumulations of 2 to 4 inches—locally up to 6 inches—were forecast, potentially threatening property, infrastructure, and transportation, according to a report in NewsWeek. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) highlighted the continued "threat of flash flooding across nearby coastal plain" as a key concern, urging residents to heed local advisories. Chatham County, North Carolina, said on its official X account that part of NC Highway 902 near Chatham Central Rd. had collapsed. "Over 100 roads across the county are flooded, and flooding is expected to continue through tonight and tomorrow—even after the rain ends," the county said. ALSO READ: Anti-Trump protests to hit US streets as 'Free America' rallies planned on July 4: All FAQs answered As flood warnings are in effect, emergency management offices preemptively advised residents to avoid water-covered roads and monitor changing conditions, underscoring the vulnerability of the region during peak Atlantic hurricane season, now in its early active phase. "These rainfall amounts may lead to scattered instances of flash flooding. Chantal is forecast to steadily weaken to a remnant low as it moves further inland through North Carolina by Monday morning" the WPC warned. The remnants of Chantal are expected to continue moving northeastward through North Carolina and toward southern Virginia by Monday. The risk of isolated heavy downpours and flash flooding will persist into Monday, even as the storm weakens further. ALSO READ: Trump's 'big beautiful bill' hands senior citizens a surprise but there's a catch The warnings of flash floods in North Carolina come at a time after deadly flash floods in Texas killed at least 82 people over the Fourth of July holiday weekend and left others still missing. The devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio, has drawn a massive search effort as officials face questions over their preparedness and the speed of their initial actions.
NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
"Bodies On Trees, Fish Rotting On Banks": Scenes Of Flood Destruction In Texas
Texas: The search and rescue teams plodded through mud-laden riverbanks and flew aircraft over the flood-stricken landscape of central Texas in the United States for a fourth day on Monday, searching for scores of people still missing after the flash floods claimed nearly 80 lives. Most of the deaths from Friday's flash floods were concentrated in the riverfront Hill Country in Texas's Kerrville, where at least 68 people died, including 28 children, according to authorities. The predawn torrential downpours, starting the night before the Independence Day holiday, caused the Guadalupe River to transform into a raging, killer torrent that ran directly through Kerrville, wreaking havoc. The river rose to the height of a two-story building in less than an hour, flooding several children's camps, tearing down trees and tossing cars as if they were toys. Cries For Help As the raging river burst its banks and washed her house, a young woman named Joyce Bandon sent a text message that may have been her last. Bandon and three friends had gone to a country house to spend the July 4 holiday together. Her SOS message triggered a frantic search effort, according to Louis Deppe, leader of a group of volunteers trying to help the Bandon family find their daughter. "Their house collapsed at about 4 in the morning and they were being washed away. On her cellphone, the last message (her family) got was 'we're being washed away' and the phone went dead," Deppe told news agency AFP. He said the team works in groups of two or three people as they look through the debris and detritus left behind by the deluge. "One of the bodies was 8 to 10 feet in a tree, surrounded by so much debris. Not one person could see it, so the more eyes, the better," he added. According to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, "Across the state, in all the areas affected by flooding, there are 41 known missing." In central Texas, some 17 helicopters joined the search for missing people, including ten girls and a counsellor from a riverside Christian summer camp where about 750 people had been staying when disaster struck. Blankets, teddy bears and other belongings at the camp were caked in mud, after windows in the cabins were shattered, apparently by the force of the water. A video surfaced on social media capturing the moment rescuers saved a woman clinging to a tree, who was dragged 20 miles down the Guadalupe River during the deadly Fourth of July floods. The 22-year-old woman was seen desperately clinging to the branches of a Cypress tree, several feet above the ground, as floodwaters rushed below her. She was rescued after a Centre Point homeowner heard her screaming for help and rushed to her aid, KEN5S reported. 🚨INCREDIBLE RESCUE / SURVIVAL STORY 🚨 A 22-year-old woman was rescued from a tree in Center Point, TX after she reportedly floated for more than 10 miles down the Guadalupe River from Ingram, TX. — Gage Goulding - KPRC 2 (@GageGoulding) July 5, 2025 Rescue Efforts Underway The river is returning to normal now, but visuals from Texas show there is utter destruction everywhere on the river banks, like a dead cow hanging from a tree, its head caught between two branches. A pickup trucks were seen lying upside down, while dozens of dead fish swept out of the water and began to rot and stink on the banks. Helicopters are still flying overhead looking for survivors or bodies while rescue teams in boats are riding up and down the river, and emergency officials are combing its banks. Little by little, debris like uprooted trees and ruined cars is being taken away. No Warning State emergency management officials had warned on Thursday, ahead of the July Fourth holiday, that parts of central Texas faced the possibility of heavy showers and flash floods based on National Weather Service Forecasts. But twice as much rain as was predicted ended up falling over two branches of the Guadalupe just upstream of the fork where they converge, sending all of that water racing into the single river channel where it slices through Kerrville, according to City Manager Dalton Rice.
