Volunteers flock to help search efforts after Texas floods even as officials warn them away
Even as authorities in Kerr County have repeatedly discouraged civilian volunteers, Rubio and dozens of others went out Monday to search for people still missing after flash flooding tore through the Texas Hill Country over the July Fourth weekend.
The emotions wrapped up in the calamity that killed at least 100 people — and the urge to help find those still missing — at times butted up against officials' need for structure and safety as they search over 60 miles (100 kilometers) along the Guadalupe River.
The river grew by the size of a two-story building in less than an hour on Friday. One survivor described a ' pitch-black wall of death." The flooding decimated shorelines, ripped trees from the ground, tossed and crushed a Ram truck, disappeared buildings and swept through a century-old summer camp packed with kids.
Rubio, who picked through torn tree limbs Monday, said he couldn't help but pitch in.
'It's sad. It eats at your soul, it eats at your heart,' he said. 'I can't just sit at home thinking about what's going on out here.'
The outpouring, volunteers say, is a Texas strain of solidarity, and officials have applauded the donations and volunteers in other areas.
When it comes to search and rescue, however, fickle weather and a flash flood warning Sunday afternoon heightened authorities' fears that unorganized volunteers may end up adding to the missing or dead.
On Sunday and Monday, officials began closing more search sites to volunteers, instead directing them to a local Salvation Army.
'We need focused and coordinated volunteers, not random people just showing up and doing what they do,' Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. said. "We remain hopeful every foot, every mile, every bend of the river.'
Some families have been frustrated by the pace, but officials are asking for patience with the breadth of the search area and methodical, no-stone-unturned approach. It's a sweeping operation with 19 different local and state agencies, drones, dogs, boats and helicopters.
Officials have laid out a grid over the search area. Each segment can reach over a mile (2 kilometers) and takes between one and three hours to search, Dalton Rice, the city manager of Kerrville, said at a news conference Monday morning.
Rice reiterated for volunteers to 'stay out of the way" so that first responders aren't waylaid ensuring that volunteers 'don't become victims themselves.'
When volunteers were asked by official responders to leave sites in Kerrville, some moved to help search in the unincorporated community of Center Point on Monday, said Cord Shiflet, who'd rallied volunteers through a Facebook post.
On Sunday, Shiflet had falsely claimed on Facebook that two girls had been rescued in a tree days after the flooding, but he said Monday that he had received bad information and apologized.
The mistake caught the attention of U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, who represents the area and urged people to be careful about false news.
'It's not fair to families and it distracts law enforcement,' Roy posted on the social platform X.
At Center Point on Monday, dozens of undeterred volunteers gathered, including Rubio and Bryan Dutton, in the afternoon heat. Dutton, a veteran who said he had friends at an RV camp affected by the floods, had been waiting to get off work to join the droves of residents coming out to assist and provide food.
'We do what we can do,' Dutton said. 'That's how Texas is.'
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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Texas sheriff who predicted floods says lives could have been saved
Floodwaters were receding in Texas on Saturday as federal, state and local officials gathered to assess the damage and call for prayer. The rescue workers did a phenomenal job and Texans were working together to help their fellow men, they said. 'Nobody saw this coming,' declared Rob Kelly, the head of Kerr County's local government, depicting the disaster as an unpredictable tragedy. But one retired Texas sheriff knew that was not entirely true. Rusty Hierholzer, who spent 40 years working in Kerr County sheriff's office, warned a decade ago of the need for better alarm systems, similar to tsunami sirens. 'Unfortunately, people don't realize that we are in flash flood alley,' Hierholzer (pictured center), who retired in 2020 after 20 years in the job, told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview. He had moved to Kerr County as a teenager in 1975, graduated high school, and volunteered as a horse wrangler at the Heart O' the Hills summer camp before joining the sheriff's office. He recalled the flash floods of 1987 – that killed 10 teenagers at the Pot O' Gold Christian Camp in nearby Comfort, Texas – when he was sheriff. He's still haunted by the memory of having 'spent hours in helicopters pulling kids out of trees here [in] our summer camps'. On Friday, Hierholzer's friend Jane Ragsdale, the director and co-owner of Heart O' the Hills camp, was killed along with at least 27 other children at nearby Camp Mystic. Hierholzer said he lost several friends. From 2016 onwards, he and several county commissioners pushed for the installation of early-warning sirens, alerting residents as the Guadalupe River, which runs from Kerr County to the San Antonio Bay on the Gulf Coast, rose. Their calls were ignored, while the neighboring counties of Kendall and Comal have installed warning sirens. Kerr County, 100 miles northwest of San Antonio, sits on limestone bedrock making the region particularly susceptible to catastrophic floods. Rain totals over the last several days ranged from more than six inches in nearby Sisterdale to upwards of 20 inches in Bertram, further north. In 2016, county leaders and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) commissioned a flood risk study and two years later bid for a $1 million FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant. The proposal included rain and river gauges, public alert infrastructure, and local sirens. But the bid was denied. A second effort in 2020 and a third in 2023 also failed – and local officials balked at the costs of sirens costing between $10,000 and $50,000 each. 'It was probably just, I hate to say the word, priorities,' Tom Moser, a former member of the county commission, told the Wall Street Journal. 'Trying not to raise taxes. We just didn't implement a sophisticated system that gave an early warning system. That's what was needed and is needed.' Kelly, the Kerr County judge, who leads the county commission, told the New York Times: 'We've looked into it before. The public reeled at the cost. Taxpayers won't pay for it.' Asked by the paper if residents might reconsider now, Kelly replied: 'I don't know.' Hierholzer is reluctant to criticize his successors while the rescue efforts are ongoing, and the death toll still rising. 'This is not the time to critique, or come down on all the first responders,' he said. But, he added, the moment will come. 'After all this is over, they will have an 'after the incident accident request' and look at all this stuff. That's what we've always done, every time there was a fire or floods or whatever. We'd look and see what we could do better.' Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security secretary, was asked during a news conference on Saturday whether the fact that many did not receive cell phone warnings until 7 am on Friday – two hours after the waters peaked – was a 'fundamental failure of the federal government's responsibility to keep people safe.' Noem said the technology was 'ancient' and that Trump's team was working to update it. 'We know that everyone wants more warning time, and that's why we're working to upgrade the technology that's been neglected for far too long to make sure families have as much advance notice as possible,' she said. Even so, Hierholzer admits he doesn't know if warning sirens would have saved lives. 'If we'd had alarms, sometimes there is no way you can evacuate people out of the zone,' he said. 'How are you going to get all of them out safely? That was always a big concern for us: are you making people safer by telling them to stay or go? And what happened in the floods of '87 was that the workers at the church camp tried to get the kids out of the area, but their bus broke down, and they were swept away.' Maria Tapia, a 64-year-old property manager, would certainly have appreciated more warning. When she went to bed at around 10pm on Thursday night in her single-story home 300ft from the Guadalupe River it was not even raining. 'I sleep very lightly, and I was woken up by the thunder,' she told the Daily Mail. 'Then the really, really heavy rain. It sounded like little stones were pelting my window. My husband woke up and I got out of bed to turn on the light, and the water was already half a foot deep.' She and Felipe quickly got dressed. As they did so, the water rose rapidly. Within 10 minutes it was above their knees. 'We tried to get out of the house but the doors were jammed. It was terrifying. Felipe had to use all his body weight to slam the door and open it to let us out, and then the screen to the porch was jammed shut so he had to kick it down so we could escape. The lights went out soon after and Felipe thought of trying to get in our truck, but the water was coming too fast so we ran up the hill to our neighbors because we could see they still had light. 'It was terrifying,' she adds, choking back tears. 'I kept on thinking: I'm never going to see my grandchildren again.' Returning to her home on Saturday, she found the interior thick with mud and branches. Water had reached the ceiling, and furniture was smashed and strewn into the yard. She was frantic with worry about their two cats, Sylvester and Baby, and their four-month-old sheepdog puppy, Milo - but on returning home found the animals sitting on the roof. 'I've seen flooding before, but never anything like that. It was just monstrous.' Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, has ordered state politicians to return to Austin for a special session on July 21, saying it was 'the way to respond to what happened in Kerrville'. A bill to fund warning systems, House Bill 13, was debated in the state House in April, but never made it to a full vote. Some speculated that the bill could be revived, although Abbott would not comment on their plans. Wes Virdell, a representative whose constituency includes Kerr County, was among those to vote against HB13 in the House. He has spent much of the past two days aiding rescue efforts, but told The Texas Tribune he'd now be in favor of the bill. 'I can tell you in hindsight, watching what it takes to deal with a disaster like this, my vote would probably be different now,' he said. Hierholzer now says all he can do is offer his help. He had texted his successor, Larry Leither, but did not want to get in the way. 'The main thing they need now is for people to stay away,' said Hierholzer. 'First responders can't get to the area if there are sightseers wanting to see all the stuff. That's always a problem: please stay away and let them do their jobs.' He added that Leither 'has his hands full right now', recalling his own time leading the emergency response, and dealing with such heartbreaking scenes. 'He's seeing things he shouldn't have to,' Hierholzer added.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
FACT FOCUS: No, weather modification did not cause the deadly flash floods in Texas
As authorities search for victims of the flash floods in Texas that killed more than 100 people over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, social media users are spreading false claims that the devastation was caused by weather modification. Many pointed to one process in particular, blaming cloud seeding performed on July 2 by a California-based company for the tragedy. But officials say there is no evidence that the floods are the result of cloud seeding and experts agree that cloud seeding would not result in precipitation of this magnitude. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A July 2 cloud seeding operation by Rainmaker Technology Corporation caused flash floods in the Texas Hill Country over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. THE FACTS: This is false. It is not possible that cloud seeding generated the floods, according to experts, as the process can only produce limited precipitation using clouds that already exist. Forecasts predicted rain for that weekend prior to July 2 in an area that was already prone to flooding. 'The claim that cloud seeding played a role in this tragic event is complete nonsense,' said Andrew Dessler, director of Texas A&M University's Texas Center for Extreme Weather. Dev Niyogi, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin who studies extreme weather, said it is 'extremely unlikely' cloud seeding played a role in the floods. He cited weather factors as the reason: 'the moisture flow coming into the area and the widespread rains the system had, as well as the forecast of very heavy rains over the wider area.' Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said at a press briefing on Monday that 'to the best of my knowledge, there is zero evidence of anything related to anything like weather modification' when asked about such speculation. He added: 'The internet is a strange place. People can come up with all sorts of crazy theories.' Nonetheless, social media users questioned whether Rainmaker's operations could be connected to the disaster in Texas. 'Well … this is weird … A company called Rainmaker, conducted a cloud seeding mission on July 2 over Texas Hill Country,' reads one X post. '2 days later, the worst flood in their history occurred … in the exact same area that the Rainmaker flights were. The entire goal of Rainmaker is to increase the precipitation of existing clouds. Why do we let these corporations f — k with the weather?' Many posts also noted Rainmaker's connection to Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, who cofounded the data-mining outfit Palantir Technologies, a secretive company that has long relied on spies, police, and the military as its customers. The Thiel Foundation awarded Rainmaker founder and CEO Augustus Doricko $100,000 in 2024 as part of its fellowship program. Cloud seeding utilizes an artificial material — typically silver iodide — to induce precipitation or clear fog. The practice is an imprecise undertaking with mixed results. Dessler explained that 'cloud seeding can work in certain limited situations and produce very modest increases in precipitation,' but often delivers nothing.' Regardless, the process cannot create storms out of thin air. Ken Leppert, an associate professor of atmospheric science at the University of Louisiana Monroe, said it 'had absolutely nothing' to do with the flash floods in Texas. 'Cloud seeding works by adding aerosols to existing clouds,' he said. 'It doesn't work by helping to create a cloud/storm that doesn't already exist. The storms that produced the rainfall and flooding in Texas were not in existence two days before the event.' The Texas Hill Country, in the central part of the state, is naturally prone to flash flooding due to the dry, dirt-packed areas where the soil lets rain skid along the surface of the landscape instead of soaking it up. After a flood watch notice was issued midday on July 3, the National Weather Service issued an urgent warning overnight for at least 30,000 people. The July 4 flash floods started with a particularly bad storm that dropped most of its 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in the dark early morning hours. There was so much rain that the Guadalupe River rose higher than it has in 93 years by almost a foot, according to local reports. 'The natural disaster in the Texan Hill Country is a tragedy. My prayers are with Texas,' Doricko, the Rainmaker CEO, wrote as part of a series of X posts. 'Rainmaker did not operate in the affected area on the 3rd or 4th or contribute to the floods that occurred over the region.' He said Rainmaker's last cloud seeding operation prior to the floods occurred in the early afternoon on July 2 over eastern portions of south-central Texas. Two clouds were seeded and remained in the sky for about two hours before dissipating. Rainmaker suspended its cloud seeding operations indefinitely the same day in response to 'unusually high moisture content.' ___
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
NWS funding slashed months before floods
Published: Updated: As catastrophic floods swept through Central Texas on July 4, several National Weather Service (NWS) offices had already been in crisis for months. Key forecasting hubs across the state were operating without critical staff, the result of sweeping federal workforce reductions spearheaded by the White House 's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In San Angelo, the NWS offices' vacancy rate had doubled since January after losing several key personnel, including the warning coordination meteorologist, who retired early in April. The Austin/San Antonio office, operating with a 22 percent staffing shortfall. Experts such as meteorologist John Morales said 'it was a good forecast,' noting he did not believe cuts at the NWS ' had anything to do with the quality of the forecast [or] the advanced warning of the potential for flooding and damaging rains .' The NWS issued a flood watch on Thursday at 1:18pm, estimating up to seven inches of rain on Friday morning in South Central Texas. A flash flood warning was released at 1:14am on Friday, with a more extreme warning coming at 4:03am, urging people to immediately evacuate to high grounds as the situation became 'extremely dangerous and life-threatening. Rapid rainfall caused the Guadalupe River in Kerr Country to surge more than 30 feet above its normal level in under an hour. Erica Grow Cei, public affairs specialist/meteorologist at NOAA's National Weather Service, told 'Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) in Austin/San Antonio and San Angelo, TX had extra personnel on duty during the catastrophic flooding event in Texas' Hill Country during the July 4 holiday weekend. 'Extra staff members from both offices, in addition to the West Gulf River Forecast Center, had extra personnel on the night of Thursday, July 3 into the day on Friday, July 4. All forecasts and warnings were issued in a timely manner. 'Additionally, these offices were able to provide decision support services to local partners, including those in the emergency management community.' Meteorologist Matt Lanza told the Texas Tribune that the devastating event was not a result of a forecasting failure, but a breakdown in communication. While Texas offices have so far avoided overnight closures, unlike counterparts in Kansas and California, the operational strain threatens the consistency of weather monitoring and emergency communication in a state frequently battered by floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. The San Angelo office, which issued warnings for parts of central Texas, is short four staff members from its usual staffing level of 23. The meteorologist-in-charge position, the office's top leadership position, is not permanently filled. The office is also without a senior hydrologist, which is critical for analyzing stream flow and flood response, this vacancy was noted as a significant gap during the floods The NWS Austin/San Antonio office has been without a warning coordination meteorologist (WCM) and science officer. A WCM is the key interface between the NWS and the public, media, and emergency management officials. They are responsible for ensuring that NWS forecasts and warnings are understood and effectively communicated to the public, ultimately helping to mitigate the impact of severe weather events. Troy Kimmel, a longtime meteorologist and owner of Kimco Meteorological Services in Central Texas, stressed in May the importance of supporting organizations like the NWS rather than reducing their workforce. 'Let me tell you this, and this is where we are now. This worries me,' Kimmel said, highlighting the potential impact on weather forecasting services. He noted that there might come a day when local meteorologists will face challenges in getting timely weather information due to reduced staffing. Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and the Houston Democratic Delegation sent a letter to NOAA leadership in May, raising concerns over the staffing crisis at the NWS Houston/Galveston office and requesting plans for maintaining services amid severe cuts. The NWS Houston/Galveston Forecast Office will soon lose all three members of its leadership staff,' the members wrote. 'The Meteorologist in Charge, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, and the Science and Operations Officer have all either already departed or announced their plans to leave following the announcement of significant staffing reductions at the direction of President Trump and Elon Musk. 'All three of the leadership roles in NWS regional forecast offices are vital to the overall operations of the office.' The Houston/Galveston office had a 44 percent vacancy rate by May, with 11 of its 25 budgeted positions unfilled. This was among the highest vacancy rates of any NWS office nationwide. The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas surpassed 100 on Monday as search-and-rescue teams continued to wade into swollen rivers and use heavy equipment to untangle trees as part of the massive search for missing people. Authorities overseeing the search for flood victims said they will wait to address questions about weather warnings and why some summer camps did not evacuate ahead of the flooding.
