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Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Texas flash flooding kills at least 13 people, leaves over 20 campers missing
First responders scan the banks of the Guadalupe River for individuals swept away by flooding in Texas. (AP pic) LOS ANGELES : Torrential rains unleashed deadly flash floods along the Guadalupe River in south-central Texas on Friday, killing at least 13 people and initially leaving nearly two dozen girls missing from a riverfront summer camp, local authorities said. The US national weather service declared a flash flood emergency for parts of Kerr County, located in the south-central Texas Hill Country, about 65 miles (105km) northwest of San Antonio, following thunderstorms with heavy downpours that dumped as much as a foot of rain. Dalton Rice, city manager for Kerrville, the county seat, told reporters the extreme flooding struck before dawn with little or no warning, precluding authorities from issuing any evacuation orders. 'This happened very quickly, over a very short period of time that could not be predicted, even with radar,' Rice said. 'This happened within less than a two-hour span.' Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha told reporters that 13 people were found dead from flooding in the area, adding, 'I think there will be more when this thing is over.' Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick said at an earlier news briefing that six to 10 bodies of adults and children had been found, some in cars washed downstream. He also said authorities were searching for 23 girls listed as unaccounted for among more than 700 children at several summer camp sites near the banks of the Guadalupe River when the site was inundated by floodwaters at around 4am local time. 'We're praying for all those missing to be found alive,' Patrick said. It was not clear whether anyone unaccounted for at Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls, might have ended up among the deceased victims tallied countywide by the sheriff. Otherwise, all other campers were safe, authorities said, but the campers could not immediately be evacuated because roads were made impassable by high waters. Camp Mystic's director said in a message read to reporters that the facility's power, water and internet service also had been cut off. 'Everybody is doing everything in their power to get these kids out,' Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the top local elected official, said at a news briefing on the disaster hours earlier. Kelly said a number of scattered residential subdivisions, recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds were hit hard. Patrick said the Guadalupe River had risen 26 feet (8m) in 45 minutes amid heavy showers soaking the region. Search teams were flying 14 helicopters and a dozen drones over the area, in addition to hundreds of emergency personnel on the ground conducting rescues from trees and swift-flowing water. The Llano River flowing through adjacent Mason County was also reported running at flood stage, posing 'a life-threatening situation', the weather service reported. With additional rain forecast in the region, Patrick warned that an ongoing threat for possible flash flooding extended from San Antonio to Waco for the next 24 to 48 hours. Personnel from the US coast guard and the federal emergency management agency were activated to assist local authorities in confronting the crisis, officials said.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Texas flood missing toll revised sharply down to 3
Recovery teams have been combing the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, the epicenter of the deadly flooding. (AP pic) WASHINGTON : Authorities in Texas have sharply lowered the number of people still believed missing after catastrophic flooding earlier this month, saying the search continued for three individuals in the worst-hit area of the US state. At least 135 people died in central Texas, including more than three dozen children, after strong downpours sparked flash flooding at the beginning of the July 4 holiday weekend. Recovery teams have been combing the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, the epicenter of the deadly flooding, hoping to find the bodies of those still missing, which last week was estimated to be near 100. 'The Kerr County Flood Disaster Joint Information Centre can confirm that three individuals remain missing at this time from the July 4 flood disaster,' the county said in a statement late Saturday. 'Extensive follow-up work' had determined that many individuals originally listed as missing had been verified as safe, it said. 'We are profoundly grateful to the more than 1,000 local, state and federal authorities who have worked tirelessly in the wake of the devastating flood that struck our community,' said Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice. 'Thanks to their extraordinary efforts, the number of individuals previously listed as missing has dropped from over 160 to three.' Dozens of deaths were reported in other counties, with the body of at least one person in Burnet County, a local fire chief, yet to be found. The flooding of the Guadalupe River was particularly devastating for summer camps on its banks, including Camp Mystic, where 27 girls and counselors died. US President Donald Trump toured the devastation on July 11 with his wife Melania, as his administration faced questions over its response in the immediate aftermath and plans to devolve federal emergency management to states.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Just three people now missing after deadly July 4 floods in Texas, days after 100 were still feared lost
They have praised rescuers for the sharp reduction in the number of people on the missing list in Kerr County since July 4. 'This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of co-ordinated search-and-rescue operations, careful investigative work and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time,' Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said. The previously announced death toll of 107 in Kerr County stayed unchallenged for much of last week even as the intensive search continued. The flash floods killed at least 135 people in Texas over the July 4 weekend, with most deaths along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, about 100km north-west of San Antonio. Just before daybreak on July 4, the destructive, fast-moving waters rose eight metres on the Guadalupe, washing away homes and vehicles. The floods laid waste to the Hill Country, a popular tourist destination where campers seek out spots along the river amid the rolling landscape. It is prone to flash flooding as its dry, dirt-packed soil cannot soak up heavy rain. Holiday cabins, youth camps and campgrounds fill the riverbanks and hills of Kerr County, including Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls. Located in a low-lying area of a region known as 'flash flood alley', Camp Mystic lost at least 27 of its campers and counsellors. The flooding was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), experts said, and it moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system. Crews have been using helicopters, boats and drones to search for victims. Earlier efforts were hampered by rain forecasts, leading some crews to hold off or stop because of worries about more flooding. In Kerrville, about 140km west of Austin, local officials have come under scrutiny over whether residents were adequately warned about the rising waters. US president Donald Trump and Texas governor Greg Abbott have pushed back aggressively against questions about how well local authorities responded to forecasts of heavy rain and the first reports of flash flooding. Mr Trump called a reporter 'evil' for raising such issues, and said he thought 'everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances'. Mr Abbott dismissed a question about who was to blame for the deaths as 'the word choice of losers' and used an analogy that began: 'Every football team makes mistakes. The way winners talk is not to point fingers.' He has designated bills dealing with early warning systems and emergency communications as priorities for the Texas legislature's special session, which starts today and is scheduled to last up to 30 days. Meanwhile, Congress and the Senate have formed special committees on flooding and disaster preparedness, and they are planning a July 31 visit to Kerrville – the seat of hardest-hit Kerr County – to hear from residents. The committees are scheduled to begin with a joint hearing on Wednesday to consider the state's response to the fatal floods, planning for floods, infrastructure for managing floods, and communications among first responders.
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Boston Globe
Number of missing from floods in Texas county drops from nearly 100 to 3
'This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time,' said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice. Numbers of those missing in natural disasters are often fluid and can decline dramatically. Overwhelmed local officials can struggle to obtain an accurate count, especially when those missing involve visitors to the affected region or people without stable housing. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Some of those initially described as unaccounted for in Kerr County — the county most impacted by the deadly flooding on July 4 — did not live in the area but had traveled there for the holiday weekend. Advertisement That so many had remained missing more than two weeks after the devastating flooding deepened the horror of the tragedy, which left at least 135 people dead, dozens of them children. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has pledged to continue the search until every person is found. 'Our thoughts remain with the families still awaiting news, and we will continue to stand with them as efforts persist,' Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. said Saturday. Advertisement On Monday, the Texas legislature is expected to convene in Austin for a special session in which lawmakers will discuss the catastrophic flooding. State legislative leaders have formed committees to examine flood warning systems, relief efforts, and disaster preparedness. They plan to hold a hearing in Kerrville on July 31. Jonathan Lamb, spokesman for the Kerrville Police Department, said in a statement Sunday that investigators had engaged in an 'exhaustive effort to verify the status of each individual who was reported missing,' narrowing hundreds of names down to three. 'This process takes time, but it is essential to ensure that every lead is thoroughly followed and each person is properly accounted for,' Lamb said. When flash floods surge through rural areas with rugged terrain, it can take days or even weeks to locate missing people and uncover the bodies of those who were washed away. After Hurricane Helene slammed into western North Carolina in September, the American Red Cross received more than 9,000 reunification requests from family members seeking loved ones. The vast majority were ultimately discovered trapped in isolated locations or lost in the shuffle at shelters, and within a few weeks, the number of people unaccounted for dropped from the thousands to the single digits. The force of the flood waters also complicated the search: The body of one man reported missing from a campground in North Carolina was found six months later at a spot about 12 miles away. At least two other women from the state still have not been found. A similar dynamic unfolded after the devastating 2023 wildfire in Maui, which killed 102 people. More than 1,000 others were initially unaccounted for a week later. A month after the fire, the figure dropped from 385 to 66. Two people remain missing. Advertisement For weeks, more than 1,000 local, state, and federal responders, along with thousands of volunteers, have combed 60 miles of the Guadalupe River through communities in Kerr County and farther south. As hope of finding survivors faded, the massive effort essentially became a search for remains. For those whose loved ones disappeared in the flood waters, the agonizing wait goes on. Sherry McCutcheon, 66, works for the Texas Department of Public Safety. Her mother and one of her brothers died when the rising waters overtook their home in Leander, about 25 miles north of Austin, she said. Another brother, Gary Traugott, 60, remains missing. Frustrated by the lack of information from local officials, McCutcheon and her neighbors compiled their own list of the missing, which they posted on Facebook. Most were found dead; seven were found safe. Three remained missing Sunday, including Traugott. On Friday, McCutcheon was at a funeral home planning the burial services for her mother and brother when officials called to say that a body had been found under a washed-out bridge. On Sunday, McCutcheon was awaiting the results of DNA tests to see whether it was her brother Gary. 'If this person isn't Gary, I don't know what we're going to do,' she said. Some living near the Guadalupe said they feared the true number of the dead and missing would never be known. Lorena Guillen, who owns Blue Oak RV Park in Kerrville, said she had heard there were Honduran and Mexican undocumented immigrants who were afraid to report the missing for fear of being apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 'There's a whole underground community here,' Guillen said. Advertisement Kevin LaFond, southern region commander for United Cajun Navy volunteers, said it wasn't clear why the number of missing dropped so quickly in Kerr County, adding that his team was still working to search more inaccessible areas devastated by the floods. 'It's hard to have any confidence in a number until those areas are reached,' LaFond said. 'The numbers have fluctuated since the beginning, and probably are going to fluctuate at the end.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Number of missing in deadly Texas floods drops to three
The number of people missing in Texas after devastating floods hit the state has dropped from 160 people to three, officials said. The flash floods following a torrential downpour on 4 July killed 135 people in, including children at Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls' summer camp along the Guadalupe River. Dozens of others were reported missing. But on late Saturday, the city of Kerrville, at the heart of the disaster, reported that many had been verified as safe. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said that it took "countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families". In a Facebook post, the city said ,000 federal, state and local officials had worked "tirelessly" to track down the missing and that search teams were now reuniting them with their families. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. said in the post: "Our thoughts remain with the families still awaiting news, and we will continue to stand with them as efforts persist." Earlier this week, officials said the number of people who were missing had fallen from 160 to 100 in Kerr County - the hardest hit area - and nearby areas thanks to the help of thousands of rescuers. Officials said many people who were initially reported as missing had been verified as safe and were removed from the list. At Camp Mystic, at least 27 campers and counselors died after the Guadalupe River flooded from the torrential rains. The river rose 26ft (8m) in the span of just 45 minutes as young children, staff and residents slept in homes along the river. In the wake of the deadly tragedy, questions were raised about whether adequate warnings were provided and why camps weren't evacuated ahead of the deluge. Experts have said a number of factor led to the deadly impact of the flash flood, including the pre-dawn timing, the location of some homes, the patchwork of cell service and its overall speed and severity. President Donald Trump visited the wreckage last week to express his "love and support" for those who had been affected, dismissing questions about whether more could have been done to warn residents. Texas floods death toll climbs to at least 107 'Hero' dad, twin girls and riverside campers among Texas flood victims
