Flood search effort in Texas could 'go strong' for 1-2 more months, sheriff says

USA Today

2 days ago

The latest round of flash flooding was receding in central Texas early Monday, but storms forecast for later in the day could bring more hurt to a region slammed by flooding that has killed at least 132 people.
The National Weather Service warned that thunderstorms producing "excessive rainfall and potential flooding" were forecast Monday and Tuesday. A flood watch was in effect for more than a dozen counties. Among them: Kerr County, where more than 100 people were killed when the Guadalupe River roared over its banks on the Fourth of July.
Rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches with isolated amounts of 7 to 9 inches are possible, the weather service said. A flood watch was in effect until 9 p.m.
Storms that swept through the region Sunday prompted dozens of high-water rescues in the Lampasas area, about 100 miles northeast of Kerrville. Flash flooding also delayed search, rescue and recovery efforts in Kerr County "half to three-quarters of a day," although they were once again underway Monday, County Sheriff Larry Leitha said Monday.
Leitha said more than 2,000 people from multiple agencies were assisting the effort, and that he had been assured by Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump that all needed resources would be provided.
"How long is it gonna take? Who knows? I think we will go strong for another month or two, up to maybe six months winding down as we move on," Leitha said. "We continue to have the resources and assets we need, and we will keep looking."
Kerr County leaders meet, face scrutiny
The Kerr County Commissioners' Court was holding its first bimonthly meeting on Monday since floods ravaged the county 10 days ago. Local officials have come under scrutiny for not installing flood warning sirens along the Guadalupe River. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said last week that county officials considered sirens several years ago but dismissed the idea because "the public reeled at the cost."
At the meeting, Kelly asked residents to be patient.
"We have been up to our eyeballs in search and rescue, and search and rescue remains our top priority," he said. "It also includes recovery. Just be patient with it as we go forward."
San Saba River exceeds 30 feet, local officials say
The city of San Saba, about 100 miles north of Kerrville in San Saba County, urged residents close to the river to be prepared because of rising waters. County Judge Jody Fauley issued a mandatory evacuation for parts of the city, noting that the "river is rising faster than it did on July 4." Some roads won't reopen until at least Tuesday, he said.
"Obviously none of us expected to have two, 70-year floods within a week of each other," Fauley said in a video posted on social media. "Y'all be careful."
Heavy rains slam area Monday
The weather service office in San Antonio said early Monday that a "dangerous situation" was occurring in parts of Uvalde, Real, Bandera and Kerr Counties and 2 to 5 inches of rain had fallen in less than 4 hours.
"More heavy rain is on the way. Flooding is already happening," the weather service said on social media.
A flood warning was in effect on the Guadalupe River at Hunt, a few miles west of Kerrville. The river is expected to reach moderate flood stage at about 11 a.m. local time at 14.6 feet, up from 8.45 feet a few hours earlier.
"Seek higher ground along the river bank," Kerrville police warned on social media.
Timeline of tragedy: How the floods unfolded
In the early days of July, pieces of weather systems were converging to bring devastation to the Texas Hill Country, transforming the Guadalupe River into a monster raging out of its banks in the pre-dawn hours of July 4. At least 129 people have died, and at least 160 are listed as missing.
The hours leading up to the disaster, and the actions taken to protect the lives of those in the water's hellish fury, are critical to understanding what happened and whether more could have been done in the name of safety. Through a National Weather Service messaging service with emergency management officials and broadcast meteorologists, U.S. Geological Survey data and other records, USA TODAY has pieced together a timeline of the calamity on the Guadalupe. See the details here.
− Dinah Voyles Pulver
Hour by hour breakdown: Timeline of the Guadalupe River flooding disaster