Search for Texas flood victims paused amid heavy rain

Perth Now

5 days ago

More heavy rain in Texas temporarily paused a weeklong search for victims of catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River and led to high-water rescues elsewhere as officials warned that the downpours could again cause waterways to surge.
It was the first time a new round of severe weather had paused the search since the July Fourth floods, which killed at least 129 people.
Authorities believe more than 160 people may still be missing in Kerr County alone, and 10 more in neighbouring areas.
In Kerrville, where officials have come under scrutiny over the failure to adequately warn residents about the rising water in the early morning hours of July 4, authorities went door-to-door to some homes after midnight early on Sunday to alert people that flooding was again possible.
Authorities also pushed phone alerts to those in the area.
During the pause in searches, Ingram Fire Department officials ordered crews to immediately evacuate the Guadalupe River corridor in Kerr County, warning the potential for a flash flood is high.
Late on Sunday afternoon, the Kerr County Sheriff's Office announced that search teams in the western part of that county could resume their efforts.
The Ingram Fire Department would resume their search and rescue efforts Monday morning, agency spokesman Brian Lochte said.
Governor Greg Abbott said on X the state was making rescues in San Saba, Lampasas and Schleicher counties and that evacuations were taking place in a handful of others.
Texas Task Force 1, a joint state and federal urban search and rescue team, had rescued dozens of people in the Lampasas area, Abbott said.
The latest round of flooding damaged about 100 homes and knocked down untold lengths of cattle fencing, said Ashley Johnson, CEO of the Hill Country Community Action Association, a San Saba-based nonprofit.
"Anything you can imagine in a rural community was damaged," she said.
"Our blessing is it was daylight and we knew it was coming."
With more rain on the way, county officials ordered everyone living in flood-prone areas near the San Saba River to evacuate.
Forecasters warned that the Guadalupe River could rise to nearly five metres by Sunday afternoon, enough to put the Highway 39 bridge under water in Hunt, the small town where Camp Mystic is located along the river.
"Numerous secondary roads and bridges are flooded and very dangerous," a weather service warning said.
The July 4 flood was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system.