Lake Tahoe fireworks show cancelled, beaches closed due to sinking barge
A barge carrying fireworks for the Incline Village fireworks show was damaged in a storm Thursday night and began sinking, according to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.
The incident prompted officials to cancel the fireworks show and close Ski Beach, Incline Beach and Incline Boat Ramp. Burnt Cedar Beach remained open Friday afternoon, the sheriff's office said.
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District and Incline Village General Improvement District are working to secure the area. Anyone who comes across fireworks debris or unexploded materials around Lake Tahoe was advised to avoid touching it and report it to the sheriff's office at 775-785-9276.
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Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
A boy saved by barbed wire, a 'destroyed' camp and missed warning signs in Texas floods
The warning signs were already flashing as hundreds of young people celebrated the Fourth of July public holiday at Camp Mystic, an all-girls' Christian summer retreat, nestled on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Texas. There had not been a drop of rain in the area recently until the inundation, when the river rose 26ft (8m) in less than an hour, according to state officials. By Saturday evening, at least 51 people were dead, including 15 children. Search for missing continues Texas flood victims: Girl 'living her best life' and 'heart and soul' of camp The first hint of the devastation to come appeared on Thursday morning as rain and thunderstorms soaked a number of central Texas counties. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a common warning called a flood watch at 13:18 that afternoon for parts of the region, including Kerr County. In the early hours of Friday, the outlook became more dire as the NWS issued a series of upgraded warnings. The San Saba river, the Concho River and the Colorado River were rising. At 04:03, the NWS sent a "particularly dangerous situation" alert, reserved for the most urgent and potentially deadly scenarios such as wildfires. Another "particularly dangerous situation" warning was issued for the city of Kerrville at 05:34, before dawn on Friday. "Residents and campers should SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! Life threatening flash flooding along the river is expected," forecasters said. "Automated rain gauges indicate a large and deadly flood wave is moving down the Guadalupe River. Flash flooding is already occurring." Such alerts are shared on NWS social media accounts and by broadcast news outlets, but most people were asleep. Elinor Lester, 13, said younger campers at Camp Mystic were bunked in cabins closer to the riverbank and those were the first to flood. "The camp was completely destroyed," Elinor, who was evacuated by helicopter, told the Associated Press news agency. "It was really scary." Just outside Kerrville, the BBC met Jonathan and Brittany Rojas as they came to see what was left of a relative's home. Only the foundations remain. Five people were in the house the night of the deluge - the mother and her baby are still missing. The teenage son, Leo, survived after he became snared in barbed wire, preventing him from being swept away. The boy is recovering in hospital. As the BBC was interviewing the Rojas couple, a neighbour walked up to present them with an item salvaged from the house. It was the teenager's money jar. The label on it read, "Leo's survival kit". Desperate Camp Mystic parents took to social media looking for news of their children. One Facebook group - Kerrville Breaking News - turned into a missing persons page. Some parents have since updated their social media pleas to say their missing family members did not survive. Kerr County is in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, a getaway destination because of its scenic rolling hills, countless rivers and lakes and abundance of wineries. But the region is also known as "Flash Flood Alley", because of the recurring threat that has devastated local communities over the years. When asked why the riverside summer camp was not evacuated, officials said the sudden scale of the deluge caught them unawares. "No-one knew this kind of flood was coming," Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said.
5 hours ago
Texas officials face scrutiny over response to catastrophic and deadly flooding
KERRVILLE, Texas -- Before heading to bed before the Fourth of July holiday, Christopher Flowers checked the weather while staying at a friend's house along the Guadalupe River. Nothing in the forecast alarmed him. Hours later, he was rushing to safety: He woke up in darkness to electrical sockets popping and ankle-deep water. Quickly, his family scrambled nine people into the attic. Phones buzzed with alerts, Flowers recalled Saturday, but he did not remember when in the chaos they started. 'What they need they need is some kind of external system, like a tornado warning that tells people to get out now,' Flowers, 44, said. The destructive fast-moving waters that began before sunrise Friday in the Texas Hill Country killed at least 43 people in Kerr County, authorities said Saturday, and an unknown number of people remained missing. Those still unaccounted for included 27 girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along a river in Kerr County where most of the dead were recovered. But as authorities launch one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts in recent Texas history, they have come under intensifying scrutiny over preparations and why residents and youth summer camps that are dotted along the river were not alerted sooner or told to evacuate. The National Weather Service sent out a series of flash flood warnings in the early hours Friday before issuing flash flood emergencies — a rare alert notifying of imminent danger. Local officials have insisted that no one saw the flood potential coming and have defended their actions. 'There's going to be a lot of finger-pointing, a lot of second-guessing and Monday morning quarterbacking,' said Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, whose district includes Kerr County. 'There's a lot of people saying 'why' and 'how,' and I understand that.' An initial flood watch — which generally urges residents to be weather aware — was issued by the local National Weather Service office at 1:18 p.m. local time on Thursday. It predicted rain amounts of between 5 to 7 inches (12.7 to 17.8 centimeters). Weather messaging from the office, including automated alerts delivered to mobile phones to people in threatened areas, grew increasingly ominous in the early morning hours of Friday, urging people to move to higher ground and evacuate flood-prone areas, said Jason Runyen, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service office. At 4:03 a.m., the office issued an urgent warning that raised the potential of catastrophic damage and a severe threat to human life. Jonathan Porter, the chief meteorologist at AccuWeather, a private weather forecasting company that uses National Weather Service data, said it appeared evacuations and other proactive measures could have been undertaken to reduce the risk of fatalities. 'People, businesses, and governments should take action based on Flash Flood Warnings that are issued, regardless of the rainfall amounts that have occurred or are forecast,' Porter said in a statement. Local officials have said they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area. 'We know we get rains. We know the river rises,' said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's top elected official. 'But nobody saw this coming.' Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said he was jogging along the river early in the morning and didn't notice any problems at 4 a.m. A little over an hour later, at 5:20 a.m., the water level had risen dramatically, and 'we almost weren't able to get out of the park,' he said. Rice also noted that the public can become desensitized to too many weather warnings. Kelly said the county considered a flood warning system along the river that would have functioned like a tornado warning siren about six or seven years ago, before he was elected, but that the idea never got off the ground because of the expense. 'We've looked into it before … The public reeled at the cost,' Kelly said. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Saturday that the massive response to the flooding had resulted in the rescue and recovery of more than 850 people, including some found clinging to trees. Scores of people in and along the river were airlifted to safety by helicopter, including girls at Camp Mystic. Kelly said he didn't know what kind of safety and evacuation plans the camps may have had. 'What I do know is the flood hit the camp first, and it came in the middle of the night. I don't know where the kids were," he said. "I don't know what kind of alarm systems they had. That will come out in time." U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Saturday it was difficult for forecasters to predict just how much rain would fall. She said the Trump administration would make it a priority to upgrade National Weather Service technology used to deliver warnings. '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,' Noem said during a press conference with state and federal leaders. The National Weather Service office in New Braunfels, which delivers forecasts for Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding areas, had extra staff on duty during the storms, Runyen said. Where the office would typically have two forecasters on duty during clear weather, they had up to five on staff. 'There were extra people in here that night, and that's typical in every weather service office — you staff up for an event and bring people in on overtime and hold people over,' Runyen said.
Chicago Tribune
11 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Fans reflect on NASCAR's (possibly) final race in Chicago
As NASCAR fans from across the globe gathered for the 2025 Chicago Street Race on Saturday, some spectators reveled in the moment more than usual, knowing it may be the last time the city hosts the event. This is the third and final year of NASCAR's contract with the city for the Fourth of July weekend event. Racing officials have not released a full schedule for 2026, and Mayor Brandon Johnson has so far not committed to bringing NASCAR back. NASCAR Chicago Street Race President Julie Giese has been tight-lipped about NASCAR's future in the city, as well. A two-year extension for the course to stay in Chicago remains possible, but far from certain. Races in the previous two years have been met with rainy weather, leading to lengthy delays. Some residents have been lukewarm about the event, as it comes with street closures that make 10 commonly used intersections inaccessible. And after days of snarled traffic and rerouted buses, it takes awhile for the Loop to return to normal. Amid the uncertainty, thousands of dedicated racing fans streamed into Chicago's Grant Park early Saturday morning, braving the hot weather but enjoying clear blue skies as drivers completed their initial practice runs. 'I am out here because this will probably be the last year,' said John Drexler, a 66-year-old truck driver from Schaumburg and self-described 'gearhead.' Drexler said it would be a shame to lose a spectacle, which showcases Chicago's skyline for an international audience. 'I've been a racing fan for more than 50 years, so I hope they bring it back,' he said. 'Monaco and Long Beach are the only cities that are even comparable to this.' Many spectators watched the race — and visited Chicago — for the first time. The street course rookies seemed in awe of the atmosphere. 'So far it's been awesome. I'm over the moon,' said Scott Russell, 52, who traveled from Melbourne, Australia. 'I paid a fortune for tickets (because) I thought if I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this properly. I would definitely come back to Chicago without a doubt.' Fans filled the grandstands east of the pit stops on Columbus Drive and lined the fences along the rest of the 2.2-mile lakefront course, many wincing as drivers roared past at more than 100 mph. Drivers maneuvered through Grant Park and skirted Lake Michigan, sped past the Museum Campus down to Roosevelt Road, taking several 90-degree turns at about 50 mph, eventually heading north on Michigan Avenue and then east past the Art Institute of Chicago on Jackson Drive. 'I've been to all three of these because I felt like this was maybe not going to be around forever,' said Mike Piotrowski, who grew up watching racing on television. Piotrowski is not like some of the NASCAR fans who have been to races all over the country. David Cox, 52, said he has made trips to Talladega in Lincoln, Alabama, and Bristol, in Tennessee, as well as watched races in Michigan. 'A NASCAR race is like a marriage, everyone should try it at least once,' Cox said. 'If you don't like it, don't go back.' John Tucker, a Lutheran minister from Salisbury, N.C., has been to four races this year. His daughter is married to an engineer from RCR Racing, which is why he became a traveling NASCAR fan eight years ago. He thinks the racing itself is interesting, but he said he became a true fan when he saw the 'camaraderie of the pit crews.' 'They really look after each other,' Tucker said. 'Family care is important to me, and to see that with a team … I didn't expect that.' Before Saturday, Tammy Southern had not been to a NASCAR race since 1997. This weekend was the first time she and her husband, Bradley, were able to take a vacation alone since they had children. They came to Chicago from South Bend, Indiana, to soak up 'the stuff that you don't normally see when you're at home watching it.' 'There's so many different experiences here that we get to see,' Southern said. 'It's sad that this might be the last one here.' The weekend featured one of its first nonrainy days, as fans treated themselves to mock races, a trip down pit lane during qualifying and a look at each racer's RV. Workers repaired cars while others kept the crew hydrated in the high-80s degree weather. Thirty-eight drivers qualified for Saturday's Xfinity Series The Loop 110 race, and many said Chicago's heat wave made the course hotter and slicker than the past two years, making it more difficult to avoid scraping the walls. 'When the track is that hot and slick, there is no margin for error,' said 36-year-old New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen, just after completing the fastest time during the Loop 110 qualifying round. Gisbergen, the winner of the inaugural Chicago Street Race in 2023, said he also hopes the Chicago Street Race returns for another year. 'You walk to the track with all the fans and it's really cool,' he said. 'This is a place that is really special to me.' Many fans said they would love to see the race remain in Chicago, as well. They rave about how close spectators are to the track, as well as the 'smell of the tires and asphalt' as racers drove by. 'I'm really happy to be here because it's my first time I've ever been to Chicago and the city has amazed me (because of) how clean it is and the amount of people I've met and how friendly they are,' Russell said. 'If someone said to me, 'You want to go to Chicago (for the race)?', I'll be like 'Yup, let's go.''
