A look at some of the deadliest floods in the U.S. in the last 25 years
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Flooding has caused an average of more than 125 deaths per year in the United States over the past few decades, according to the National Weather Service, and flash floods are the nation's top storm-related killer.Here's a look at some of the most deadly flooding nationwide in the past 25 years.Texas, July 2025: Authorities are still assessing the deadly effects of heavy rains that caused devastating flash floods in Texas Hill Country, leaving at least 27 people dead and many others missing as frantic parents sought word about their daughters unaccounted for at a girls' camp near the Guadalupe River.Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. Hurricane Helene, 2024: Hurricane Helene struck Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia in September 2024. The storm caused about 250 deaths, according to the National Weather Service.Many of those who died in Helene fell victim to massive inland flooding, rather than high winds. Helene was the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.The storm decimated remote towns throughout the Appalachians and left millions without power, cellular service and supplies. In North Carolina alone, Helene was responsible for 108 deaths, according to the state's Department of Health and Human Services.Kentucky, 2022: Raging floodwaters in eastern Kentucky in late July of 2022 led to 45 deaths, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys said Saturday.The floods destroyed homes and businesses and caused significant damage to schools, roads, bridges and water systems. The disaster robbed thousands of families of all their possessions.Tennessee, 2021: Twenty people were killed when creeks near the small Middle Tennessee town of Waverly overflowed after more than more than 17 inches (43 centimeters) of rain fell in the area in less than 24 hours in August 2021.Homes were washed off their foundations, cars were wrecked and businesses were demolished. The dead included twin babies who were swept from their father's arms.Hurricane Harvey, 2017 Hurricane Harvey barreled into Texas in August 2017 as a powerful Category 4 storm. Harvey hovered for days as it trudged inland, dumping several feet of rain on many Gulf Coast communities and the Houston area.Harvey killed at least 68 people, according to a National Hurricane Center report. All but three of the Harvey deaths were directly attributed to freshwater flooding, which damaged more than 300,000 structures and caused an estimated $125 billion in damage.West Virginia, June 2016: A rainstorm that initially seemed like no big deal turned into a catastrophe in West Virginia, trapping dozens of people during the night and eventually leaving 23 people dead around the state.Superstorm Sandy, 2012: Superstorm Sandy was a late fall freak combination of a hurricane and other storms that struck New York and surrounding areas in October 2012.Sandy killed 147 people, 72 in the eastern U.S., according to the National Hurricane Center. More than 110 deaths were attributed to drowning, Roys said.Mississippi River, 2011: Heavy rainfall in several states, plus a larger-than-normal slow melt, led rivers in the Mississippi River Basin to swell and flood in 2011.Flash floods associated with these storms caused 24 deaths across Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee in April and May, according to the National Weather Service.Hurricane Ike, 2008: Hurricane Ike struck the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast in September 2008, creating a storm surge as high as 20 feet (6 meters) in the island city of Galveston.Ike then poured more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) of rain on Houston, destroying thousands of cars and leaving hundreds of thousands of families with flood-damaged homes.In all, Ike was responsible for more than 100 deaths, many caused by flooding.Hurricane Katrina, 2005: Hurricane Katrina is the deadliest flood event in the U.S. in the past 25 years.The storm crashed into the Gulf Coast and caused devastating flooding when levees failed in New Orleans, where people had to be rescued by boat and helicopter from rooftops.The costliest storm in U.S. history, Katrina caused nearly 1,400 deaths and an estimated $200 billion in damages.Tropical Storm Allison, 2001: Tropical Storm Allison caused 41 deaths, mostly attributed to flooding caused by 40 inches (101 centimeters) of rain that fell in Texas and Louisiana, Roys said.Allison remained a threat for days as its remnants lingered after making landfall in June 2001, causing major flooding in Houston.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
At least 32 dead in Texas floods as search continues for missing people
Rescuers scoured flooded riverbanks littered with mangled trees Saturday and turned over rocks in the search for more than two dozen children from a girls' camp and many others missing after a wall of water blasted down a river in the Texas Hill Country. The storm killed at least 32 people, including 14 children. Some 36 hours after the floods, authorities have still not given a number of how many people in total are still missing beyond the 27 children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river. The destructive fast-moving waters rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as torrential rains continued pounding communities outside San Antonio on Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect. Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. We will not stop until we find everyone who is missing, Nim Kidd, chief of Texas Department of Emergency Management, said at a press conference Saturday afternoon. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said the bodies of 32 people had been recovered so far: 18 adults and 14 children. Authorities were coming under growing scrutiny Saturday over whether the camps and residents in places long vulnerable to flooding received proper warning and whether enough preparations were made. The hills along the Guadalupe River in central Texas are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the July Fourth holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing. We don't even want to begin to estimate at this time, said City Manager Dalton Rice said on Saturday morning. Raging storm hit camp in middle of the night "The camp was completely destroyed, said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers. A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary. A raging storm fuelled by incredible amounts of moisture woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs, she said. Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information. On Saturday, the camp was mostly deserted. Helicopters roared above as a few people looked at the damage, including a pickup truck tossed onto its side and a building missing its entire front wall. Among those confirmed dead were an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was staying at Camp Mystic, and the director of another camp just up the road. The flooding in the middle of the night caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise in the Hill Country, which sits northwest of San Antonio. AccuWeather said the private forecasting company and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation. These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety, AccuWeather said in a statement that called the Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the US because of its terrain and many water crossings. Officials defended their actions while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area. One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week "did not predict the amount of rain that we saw, said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Helicopters, drones used in frantic search for missing Search crews were facing harsh conditions while "looking in every possible location, Rice said. Authorities said about 850 people had been rescued. US Coast Guard helicopters were flying in to assist. One reunification centre at an elementary school was mostly quiet Saturday after taking in hundreds of evacuees the day before. We still have people coming here looking for their loved ones. We've had a little success, but not much, said Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram Independent School District. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was travelling to Texas and his administration was working with officials on the ground. Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy, Trump said in a statement on his social media network. Residents clung to trees, fled to attics In Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night Friday. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home, she said. She described an agonising hour clinging to a tree with her teenage son. My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them, she said. Barry Adelman said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson. I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death, he said. Local resident know it as flash flood alley. When it rains, water doesn't soak into the soil, said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations. It rushes down the hill. 'No one knew this kind of flood was coming' The forecast for the weekend had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight Friday for at least 30,000 people. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area. Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we're not exactly sure where it's going to land," Patrick said. "Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that's when the storm started to zero in. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's chief elected official, said: We do not have a warning system. When pushed on why more precautions weren't taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was coming. More pockets of heavy rains expected The slow-moving storm is bringing more rain Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather Service. The threat could linger overnight and into Sunday morning, he said.
India Today
6 hours ago
- India Today
Death toll rises to 27 in Texas floods, dozens still missing
Rescuers scoured flooded riverbanks littered with mangled trees Saturday and turned over rocks in the search for more than two dozen children from a girls' camp and many others missing after a wall of water blasted down a river in the Texas Hill Country. The storm killed at least 27 people, including nine destructive fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as torrential rains continued pounding communities outside San Antonio on Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. 'People need to know today will be a hard day,' said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. 'Please pray for our community.'Authorities were coming under growing scrutiny Saturday over whether the camps and residents in places long vulnerable to flooding received proper warning and whether enough preparations were hills along the Guadalupe River in central Texas are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the July Fourth holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing.'We don't even want to begin to estimate at this time,' said City Manager Dalton Rice said on Saturday storm hit camp in middle of the nightSome 27 children were among the missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river, he said.'The camp was completely destroyed,' said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers. 'A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.'A raging storm woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs, she parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for Saturday, the camp was mostly deserted. Helicopters roared above as a few people looked at the damage, including a pickup truck tossed onto its side and a building missing its entire front those confirmed dead was the director of a camp just up the road from Camp flooding in the middle of the night caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise in the Hill Country, which sits northwest of San said the private forecasting company and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,' AccuWeather said in a statement that called the Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water defended their actions while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week 'did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,' said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency drones used in frantic search for missingSearch crews were facing harsh conditions while 'looking in every possible location,' Rice said about 850 people had been rescued. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters flew in to reunification centre at an elementary school was mostly quiet Saturday after taking in hundreds of evacuees the day before.'We still have people coming here looking for their loved ones. We've had a little success, but not much,' said Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram Independent School Donald Trump said Saturday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was traveling to Texas and his administration was working with officials on the and I are praying for all the families impacted by this horrible tragedy,' Trump said in a statement on his social media clung to trees, fled to atticsIn Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night Friday. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home, she said. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree with her teenage son.'My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,' she Adelman said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson.'I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death,' he resident know it as ' flash flood alley. ''When it rains, water doesn't soak into the soil,' said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations. 'It rushes down the hill.'advertisement'No one knew this kind of flood was coming'The forecast for the weekend had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight Friday for at least 30,000 people. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.'Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we're not exactly sure where it's going to land,' Patrick said. 'Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that's when the storm started to zero in.'Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's chief elected official, said: 'We do not have a warning system.'When pushed on why more precautions weren't taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was POCKETS OF RAIN EXPECTEDThe slow-moving storm is bringing more rain Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather threat could linger overnight and into Sunday morning, he said.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Buck Moon 2025: Here's how to see the July Full Moon — Best viewing time for New York, LA, London & more
Why It's Called the 'Buck Moon' Live Events Thunder Moon (Western Abenaki) – Linked to frequent summer storms Berry Moon (Anishinaabe) – Marking berry harvesting season Salmon Moon (Tlingit) – Associated with seasonal fish migration Feather Moulting Moon (Cree) – Refers to bird feather shedding Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee) – Time when corn begins to ripen Raspberry Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe) Moon When the Chokecherries Are Ripe (Dakota) Viewing Conditions and Global Timings New York: Sunset at 8:29 p.m. EDT, moonrise at 8:54 p.m. EDT Sunset at 8:29 p.m. EDT, moonrise at 8:54 p.m. EDT Los Angeles: Sunset at 8:07 p.m. PDT, moonrise at 8:33 p.m. PDT Sunset at 8:07 p.m. PDT, moonrise at 8:33 p.m. PDT London: Sunset at 9:16 p.m. BST, moonrise at 9:46 p.m. BST Sunset at 9:16 p.m. BST, moonrise at 9:46 p.m. BST New Delhi: Sunset at 7:20 p.m. IST, moonrise around 7:42 p.m. IST One of the Lowest-Hanging Full Moons of the Year Best Places to Witness the Event Will It Be a Supermoon? Full Moon Calendar for 2025 January – Wolf Moon February – Snow Moon March – Worm Moon April – Pink Moon May – Flower Moon June – Strawberry Moon July – Buck Moon August – Sturgeon Moon September – Corn Moon October – Hunter Moon November – Beaver Moon December – Cold Moon FAQs What is the Buck Moon? When will the Buck Moon reach its fullest phase in 2025? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The July full moon, known traditionally as the Buck Moon, is set to grace the skies in its fullest glory on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Astronomers and moon watchers across the globe are preparing to witness this annual lunar event, which carries both scientific interest and cultural to astronomical data, the Buck Moon will turn full at 4:38 p.m. EDT on July 10. While the precise moment of fullness occurs in daylight for much of the Americas, the best time to witness the moonrise spectacle will be during dusk on the same evening, when the moon climbs the eastern sky shortly after term 'Buck Moon' originates from Native American traditions, as male deer (bucks) begin to regrow their antlers during this period. As per the Old Farmer's Almanac, moon names reflect seasonal changes and were used by various Indigenous tribes to track the passage of EarthSky and cultural historians emphasize that full moon names vary significantly across regions and traditions. In North America, other July full moon names include:In Europe, it is also called the Hay Moon, as the full moon coincides with the harvesting of Buck Moon is expected to appear full on the nights of July 9, 10, and 11, providing a wide window for observation. While it is full only momentarily, it appears almost completely illuminated to the human eye for about three the July full moon at moonrise offers the most dramatic and picturesque scene. The moon appears larger and more golden as it rises low on the horizon — an optical illusion amplified by the atmospheric conditions during are the moonrise times for July 10, as per a report by Forbes:For accurate local timings, observers are encouraged to use moonrise calculators or astronomy year's Buck Moon is notable for being one of the lowest-hanging full moons in the sky for observers in the Northern Hemisphere. That's because the moon, when full, is directly opposite the sun in the sky. During July, the sun reaches its highest arc, meaning the full moon follows the lowest possible a result, it never climbs very high and appears to hover just above the horizon for much of the night. This effect is particularly appreciated by photographers and skywatchers who seek clear eastern or southern horizons to witness the event in its full the moon can be viewed from virtually anywhere in the world, open spaces, elevated terrain, and areas away from city lights offer the most favorable conditions. Ideal viewing spots include rural hilltops, east-facing beaches, deserts, or national parks with minimal light organizations also recommend viewing from locations with a clear line of sight to the eastern horizon. Whether in India, Europe, Africa, or the Americas, the Buck Moon is a universally accessible event requiring no special later full moons in the year, July's full moon is not classified as a supermoon. A supermoon occurs when the moon is at or near its closest point to Earth (perigee) and appears larger and brighter. The first supermoon of 2025 is expected in October, adding a different flavor to the celestial a glance at the 2025 full moon lineup, as per traditional names:The Buck Moon is the traditional name for the full moon in July. The term comes from Native American cultures, referencing the time when male deer (bucks) begin regrowing their Buck Moon will turn full at 4:38 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 10, 2025. While it peaks in daylight for many regions, the best visual experience is during moonrise at dusk.
