Texas braces for more rain as death toll mounts to at least 82 with dozens missing

CNN

a day ago

Update:
Date: 5 min ago
Title: 'The warnings have to be taken seriously,' volunteer urges as flood threat looms over Kerrville
Content:
Volunteers are heeding to flood warnings and moving to higher ground amid dangerous rescue and recovery efforts in Kerrville, Texas, a volunteer rescuer told CNN.
First responders are still struggling to connect with each other while some radios are also not working, said Nick Sortor, a public information officer with the United Cajun Navy, a volunteer rescue group from Louisiana assisting in the search and rescue efforts in Kerrville.
Rescuers are out near the riverbed where floodwaters have receded 'a little bit' and are 'still trying to dig' for any survivors, Sortor told CNN's Polo Sandoval.
The group has also been outfitting vehicles with Starlink's satellite communication devices to ensure proper communications, as authorities have warned about further possible flooding.
'Today, a lot of rescue workers had to pull out of the area and get to higher ground because there were reports of a wall of water that was headed right downstream, straight back at Kerrville,' said Sortor.
It's also critical to make sure civilians are totally out of any flood warning areas, he added.
'The warnings have to be absolutely taken seriously.'
Update:
Date: 14 min ago
Title: At least 82 people have died while more rain brings new threat. Here's the latest
Content:
The death toll from the catastrophic Texas floods has reached at least 82, with dozens more still missing.
A new round of rain is expected to swell waterways in Kerr County, where Camp Mystic is located, and officials are warning of the potential impacts.
Here's the latest:
Death toll: At least 82 people have died after floods rushed through central Texas during the July 4 weekend. The toll includes at least 28 children in Kerr County, where 10 girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic are still unaccounted for. The toll has risen as local emergency officials across the state carry out search, rescue and recovery efforts.
Rising water levels: Waterways in some of the most devastated parts of central Texas are beginning to swell once again as more rain falls in the area. Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday flash flooding could still pose a danger for some regions of Texas over the next few days as 'more heavy rainfall' is expected.
Missing campers: Crews are continuing to search for 10 campers and one counsellor from Camp Mystic, the all girls' summer camp near the Guadalupe River. Crews are searching by land and air, with the Texas Air National Guard using remotely piloted military drones typically used by the military to conduct surveillance.
Emergency readiness: Records show officials in Kerr County previously considered installing flood warning sirens, but the plan never came to fruition. While the National Weather Service issued a slew of alerts before the storm, questions have been raised about the agency's staffing and ability to reach residents at the time of the disaster.
Update:
Date: 16 min ago
Title: Water levels rise in Kerr County as additional rain falls in flood-ridden areas
Content:
Waterways in some of the most devastated parts of central Texas are beginning to swell once again as more rain falls in the area.
The rain, impacting the upper Guadalupe basin this afternoon, has led to a rise in Johnson Creek in Kerr County, where 68 people have died due to flash flooding as of Sunday evening.
'This water may lead to a rise of [one to two feet] downstream when it enters the Guadalupe river in Ingram,' the Kerr County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post this evening.
'Please be aware if you are near the Guadalupe River or Johnson Creek,' the post said.
The City of Ingram sits along the river, about 6 miles west of the City of Kerrville.
Update:
Date: 16 min ago
Title: Video: Timelapse shows speed of floodwater rising in Texas
Content:
A timelapse, captured on Friday, shows how quickly floodwaters rose along the Llano River in Kingsland, Texas.
The video, which was sped up, shows the water rush in and rise along the river in the span of 30 minutes.
Update:
Date: 16 min ago
Title: Camp Mystic night security guard hailed as hero for saving campers' lives
Content:
A man who worked as a night security guard at Camp Mystic is being hailed as a hero for saving the lives of campers after devastating floods struck the Kerr County, Texas, area on Friday.
In a statement to CNN, Glenn Juenke says he has served as the night watchman at the camp for the past four summers.
He was on duty when the floodwaters began to rush in.
Juenke explained the campers were inside a building called the Wiggle Inn, and when the water started to rise, he placed the girls on mattresses to help them ride it out safely.
'I witnessed firsthand the courage and faith that your daughters displayed during some of the most terrifying moments of their young lives,' Juenke said. 'Each of those sweet girls (were) cold, wet, and frightened — but they were also incredibly brave. They trusted me, and we leaned on each other through a long, harrowing night together inside their cabin.'