Latest news with #LynnBizzell
The Independent
11-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Texas flood before-and-after pictures show devastating toll of catastrophe which left 121 dead and 173 missing
At least 121 people are dead and 173 are missing in central Texas after the Guadalupe River swelled last Friday, causing destructive flash flooding throughout Kerr County. Now, new before-and-after satellite images of several sites throughout Kerry County show the devastation caused by the floods as crews embark on a seventh day of search and rescue efforts. Crews are searching mounds of debris along an eight-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River, often finding cars and RVs buried in the wreckage. Search and rescue efforts are expected to continue for several weeks, said Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell. Twenty-seven of those killed were children and staff attending Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp situated on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Five girls and one staffer are still missing as of Friday morning. Several of the cabins were built on 'extremely hazardous' floodways where the river's water moves at its highest velocity and depth, according to an analysis by The New York Times. Two days before the deadly floods, the camp reportedly passed its annual state safety inspection and had a written disaster plan in place. While crews wade through debris and navigate difficult terrain, many are assisting the efforts in innovative ways. Kourtney Rand, a volunteer in Ingram, Texas, told CNN the local volunteer fire department is using horses to navigate waterlogged areas. NASA has deployed two aircraft to help map the damage from the floods, while the Texas National Guard is helping the search via land and air. One man from Colorado has even traveled to Texas to help with the efforts, telling local outlet Fox 26 he was inspired to assist in any way he could after seeing photos of the devastation. Questions are swirling over whether state and local officials could have done more to warn residents about the impending floods early Friday. A local firefighter was revealed to have petitioned for an emergency alert to be sent out when the floods were imminent but one wasn't issued until at least an hour later, a new report reveals. Texas Senator Ted Cruz has criticized the state's preparation, arguing 'something went wrong' at Camp Mystic. New York Senator Chuck Schumer has also called for an investigation into whether staffing cuts at the National Weather Service impacted the response time on July4.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Texas flood before-and-after pictures show devastating toll of catastrophe which left 120 dead and 173 missing
At least 120 people are dead and 173 are missing in central Texas after the Guadalupe River swelled early Friday, causing destructive flash flooding throughout Kerr County. Now, new before-and-after satellite photos of several sites throughout Kerry County show the devastation caused by the floods as crews embark on a seventh day of search and rescue efforts. Crews are searching 'mounds' of debris along an eight-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River, often finding cars and RVs among the wreckage, Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell said Wednesday. Search and rescue efforts are expected to continue for several weeks, he added. Twenty-seven of those killed were children and staff attending Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp situated on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Five girls and one staffer are still missing as of Thursday morning. Several of the cabins were built on 'extremely hazardous' floodways where the river's water moves at its highest velocity and depth, according to an analysis by The New York Times. Two days before the deadly floods, the camp reportedly passed its annual state safety inspection and had a written disaster plan in place. While crews wade through debris and navigate difficult terrain, many are assisting the efforts in innovative ways. Kourtney Rand, a volunteer in Ingram, Texas, told CNN the local volunteer fire department is using horses to navigate water-logged areas. NASA has deployed two aircraft to help map the damage from the floods, while the Texas National Guard is helping the search via land and air. One man from Colorado has even traveled to Texas to help with the efforts, telling local outlet Fox 26 he was inspired to assist in any way he could after seeing photos of the devastation. Questions are swirling over whether state and local officials could have done more to warn residents about the impending, deadly floods early Friday. A local firefighter was revealed to have a petitioned for an emergency alert to be sent out as the floods were imminent, but one wasn't issued until at least an hour later, a new report reveals. Texas Senator Ted Cruz has criticized the state's preparation, arguing 'something went wrong' at Camp Mystic. New York Senator Chuck Schumer has also called for an investigation into whether staffing cuts at the National Weather Service impacted the response time Friday.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Reverse Fire: Crews battle wildfire west of Fredericksburg
FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (KXAN) — Crews were battling a wildfire just west of Fredericksburg in Gillespie County on Tuesday and officials named it the Reverse Fire. The affected area is estimated at 75 acres and it's 45% contained as of Tuesday night, per a press release. The fire broke out around 2:45 p.m. near the 400 block of East Grand Oaks Drive, the release said. It has generally moved east and north and is located before U.S Highway 290 and Reeh-Weinheimer Road. Fredericksburg Fire/EMS Department, in conjunction with the volunteer fire departments of Gillespie County, crews from across the region and the Texas A&M Forest Service continue to battle the blaze. 'Thanks to the coordination and quick response of our crews, we were able to get containment started on this fire,' said Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell. Bizzell said the cedar trees and numerous piles of dead vegetation throughout the area have continued to ignite and throw embers to start new spot fires. 'Our team will continue to work throughout the night to make sure there are no flare-ups,' Bizzell assured. There are no known road closures at this time, and the cause of the fire has not been determined, officials said. The city urged the public to avoid the area as crews continue to work. People in the area should listen to crews on the ground and residents were encouraged to avoid activities that could potentially ignite additional fires. Gillespie County remains in exceptional drought conditions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Crabapple Fire now 100% contained, officials say
The Brief The Crabapple Fire is now 100% contained. The fire started on March 15 and burned 9,858 acres, destroying buildings. The cause of the fire is under investigation. FREDERICKSBURG, Texas - The Crabapple Fire that burned nearly 10,000 acres in Gillespie County is now 100% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service and Fredericksburg Fire EMS. What we know The Texas A&M Forest Service gave its final update on the Crabapple Fire on Saturday morning, one week after high winds caused flames to quickly spread near Fredericksburg. The fire began as a grass fire around 1 p.m. on March 15, just 11 miles north of Fredericksburg between Lower Crabapple Road and Landrum Creek. Smoke from the fire could be seen in Austin. One firefighter was injured while battling the flames and had to be taken to a local hospital. The firefighter has since been released. In all, the fire burned 9,858 acres. Damage assessments from the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas Division of Emergency Management are listed below: Nine homes were destroyed – seven were possibly occupied and two were not occupied. Two homes damaged 20 outbuildings destroyed Four outbuildings damaged All state resources helping to put out the flames have been released. What we don't know The cause of the fire is still under investigation. What they're saying "The coordinated efforts of our crews, regional partners, state agencies and federal resources led us to this point," Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell said in a statement. "Although this fire may be contained, our hearts continue to go out to the people that lost homes, property and livestock. Our area is still in extreme drought conditions, so we ask everyone to please be vigilant of anything that may start another fire." The Source Information in this article comes from the Texas A&M Forest Service and Fredericksburg Fire EMS.
