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Gizmodo
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Gizmodo
‘Warning Fatigue' Might Have Made Texas Floods Deadlier
A deluge of rain triggered deadly flash floods in Texas Hill Country over the weekend, causing widespread damage and killing more than 80 people. As the death toll climbs, some experts say 'flood warning fatigue' may have discouraged residents from heeding the National Weather Service's (NWS) warnings. Texas Hill Country is part of 'flash flood alley,' a crescent-shaped region that curves from the Dallas area down to San Antonio and then westward. It's one of the most dangerous places in the U.S. for flash flooding. In this region, the NWS issues flood watches so often that residents may be more likely to ignore them, Troy Kimmel, an Austin-based meteorologist and emergency manager, told NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. While Kimmel believes the NWS issued timely alerts for this weekend's floods with the best information available, he argues that too many warnings can make people complacent. 'The public just gets buried in these warnings,' Kimmel said. 'I'm on the record for saying the National Weather Service overall in the United States issues too many warnings. I fully believe that.' On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 2, the NWS office in Austin/San Antonio posted on X, stating that scattered moderate to heavy showers were developing and expanding to the Hill Country. Meteorologists know that this region's rolling terrain can quickly cause shallow rivers to swell, and as the forecast grew increasingly concerning, the NWS continued to post about the flood threat. By Thursday afternoon, portions of the western Hill Country, southern Edwards Plateau, and Rio Grande were under a flood watch. That advisory upgraded to a flood warning for some parts of the affected area just after midnight on Friday, indicating that flooding was imminent or already underway. From then on, the situation escalated. According to ABC News, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring told reporters the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet (7.9 meters) within just 45 minutes in the early hours of Friday. Local weather and disaster officials are no strangers to this type of situation or how deadly it can become. In 1987, heavy rain in western Kerr County triggered a similar flash flood that killed 10 teenagers being evacuated from a camp. Less than a month ago, another flash flood killed 13 people in San Antonio. Despite this, many people within the Guadalupe floodplain—particularly those in cabins, campsites, and mobile home parks along the riverbank—failed to receive or respond to flood warnings and evacuation alerts early Friday. 'We know we get rains. We know the river rises. But nobody saw this coming,' said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's top elected official. A Washington Post review of wireless emergency alerts and data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Integrated Public Alert & Warning System showed that Kerr County did not issue its first Amber Alert-style push until Sunday. And although the NWS Austin/San Antonio office was issuing alerts before then, some of them didn't come until flooding was already well underway on Friday, and many may not have reached people in places where cellular reception is spotty. Texas officials have raised questions about whether the NWS could have done more to warn people in the flood path. Some critics suggested the Trump administration's sweeping NWS cuts hindered the agency's ability to forecast the impact. Other experts have defended its efforts, stating that the NWS issued timely and accurate warnings to the best of its ability considering the rapid escalation of the event. In an emailed statement, the NWS communications office told Gizmodo it is 'heartbroken by the tragic loss of life in Kerr County' and detailed its flood warning alert efforts leading up to Friday, July 4, stating that it gave 'preliminary lead times of more than three hours before warning criteria were met.' The question of whether flood alerts actually reached all residents in the flood path is a critically important one. This disaster has renewed a years-long push for a comprehensive flood monitoring system in Kerr County, which could go a long way to address gaps in the county's warning abilities. But getting these messages to the public as quickly as possible is only half the battle. 'The real trick is, how do you get people to get the message quickly, a message they can understand easily, and have them take action that will save their lives?' Steven Lyons, retired meteorologist-in-charge of the NWS San Angelo office, told the Washington Post. 'People think, 'It can't be that bad; I'll just jump up on my roof,'' Lyons said. 'Well, not if your house is floating away.' Warning fatigue is a key driver of this type of thinking. Some experts, like Kimmel, argue that issuing too many false alarms can lead to the 'cry wolf effect.' This is when people ignore emergency alerts because they assume the hazard won't actually manifest. The phenomenon has taken hold across the country, especially in disaster-prone places like Flash Flood Alley, where climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of extreme weather. As global temperatures continue to rise, so will the number of alerts, which could worsen warning fatigue. At the same time, catastrophic events like this deadly flood will become more common. This is a deadly combination. It's possible that more weather catastrophes could make the public more attentive and responsive to emergency alerts, but desensitization likely already results in countless deaths nationwide. As the NWS contends with climate realities and struggles to maintain lifesaving operations under the second Trump administration, the agency must also find ways to get through to the public.
Axios
05-07-2025
- General
- Axios
What we know about the Texas flooding victims
Efforts to find more than 25 girls missing from Camp Mystic after flash floods hit Central Texas early Friday morning continue, but four bodies — and dozens more from other parts of the region — have already been recovered. Here's what we know about the victims of the flooding near Kerrville, Texas: Renee Smajstrla The young girl has been identified by her uncle as one of the Camp Mystic attendees who went missing and whose body has since been recovered. "We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic," Shawn Salta wrote on Facebook. Sarah Marsh The 8-year-old Mountain Brook, Alabama, girl was a camper whose body has been found, per the city's mayor. "This is an unimaginable loss for her family, her school, and our entire community. Sarah's passing is a sorrow shared by all of us, and our hearts are with those who knew and loved her, " Mayor Stewart Welch wrote in a Facebook post. Janie Hunt The girl's family confirmed to NBC5 reporter Keenan Willard that she had died in the floods while at Camp Mystic. Lila Bonner Bonner's family also confirmed the girl had died. "In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time. We ache with all who loved her," the girl's family said in a statement to NBC5. Other people who were camping or lived near Guadalupe River, which surged to roughly 26 feet within 45 minutes, also were victims. They include: Jane Ragsdale The beloved co-owner and director of Heart O' the Hills camp was killed in floods, according to a statement posted on the camp's website. "We at the camp are stunned and deeply saddened by Jane's death. She embodied the spirit of Heart O' the Hills and was exactly the type of strong, joyful woman that the camp aimed to develop with the girls entrusted to us each summer." The girls' camp opened in 1953. There were no campers at the time of the floods. Julian Ryan Ryan, 27,"died a hero," his family told KHOU in Houston. Ryan's fiancée told the station water quickly entered their home near the Guadalupe River. Ryan punched out a window to get his family out, she said, but he was ultimately unable to make it out. "Julian was a cherished son and devoted parent and fiancé who was dedicated to his family. He was known to have an infectious laugh and unwavering kindness," according to a GoFundme account raising money for his family. "He touched countless lives with his humor and will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him."
New York Post
18-06-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Beware toxic, foot-long worms invading US — here's what to do if you see the ‘demonic flesh-eaters'
Stop, hammertime! Weeks of heavy rain have prompted a plague of massive, toxic hammerhead flatworms to erupt from the ground in North Texas, much to the chagrin of frightened locals. 'It was terrifying, like these are truly the end times, even the worms are demonic,' Keller resident Adam Ingle told NBC5 of the subterranean scourge, which reared its hammerhead in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston regions. Named for their flat, ball-peen-evoking noggins, these foot-long invertebrates secrete neurotoxins that can irritate human skin upon contact and also poison pets that ingest them. 4 Adam Ingle vents about the flathead worms. NBCDFW 4 A video of the worms wriggling on the surface of the soil. @carliebenton/TikTok 4 The hammerhead worms were introduced to the US from Asia in the late 1800s. Sandra Burm – These invaders also prey on native species such as the earthworms that tend the soil, which can impact the environment. Since arriving in the US from Southeast Asia in the late 1800s, the worms have spread across the nation, cropping up everywhere from the Pacific Northwest to New York and most recently, North Texas, despite having been in the Lone Star State for decades. 4 'Tear it in half, now you've got two worms,' said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller while warning of their regenerative capabilities. Craig – While they generally prefer to remain underground out of the sunlight, the heavy torrents brought these wriggling menaces to the surface, as seen in multiple viral TikTok videos of the groundbreaking phenomenon. 'In one of the creepy videos, the worms are wriggling on the surface of the soil like a miniature version of the monsters from 'Tremors' while another shows a lengthy specimen inching its way across an envelope. A third depicts one of the vacuum-headed critters crawling across a screen. 'Houstonnn we have a problem!!' the poster wrote in the caption. 'You don't want this guy in your garden or near your pets!' Unfortunately, eliminating this tiny terror is no mean feat — chopping them in half only increases their numbers as they reproduce asexually. 'Don't kill it, don't squish it, don't cut it up, because it makes three or four more worms,' warned Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, per NBC5. 'Tear it in half, now you've got two worms.' To dispatch hammerhead worms, experts advise bagging the worms and freezing them for up to 48 hours or leaving them in a salt and vinegar solution. Due to their toxic nature, homeowners should avoid touching them without wearing gloves or other protection, even if they're already dead.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Toxic Hammerhead Worms Surge In DFW After Heavy Rains
Recent heavy rainfall across North Texas has led to a surge in sightings of toxic, invasive hammerhead worms, prompting concern among residents and experts about their threat to plants, animals, and potentially humans. The hammerhead worm, an invasive species from Southeast Asia known as Bipalium kewense, has been reported in counties throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Recognizable by its distinctive hammer-shaped head and snake-like body, the worm can grow up to 15 inches long, though it typically measures 8 to 12 inches. Its light or honey-colored body often features one to five dark dorsal stripes. Adam Ingle, a Keller resident, encountered one on his porch. 'And then noticed its head had a hammer shape,' Ingle said, NBC 5 DFW reported. 'And it was terrifying, like these are truly the end times, even the worms are demonic.' Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller described the worm's appearance: 'If you see one, you won't mistake it, it's over a foot long, about 12, 15 inches long. It's got a big, wide head on it, like a hammer, I mean, just like it says.' The hammerhead worm poses a significant ecological threat as a predator of earthworms, which are vital for healthy soil in forests, crops, gardens, and compost piles. Its skin secretes a neurotoxin that can cause rashes in humans and harm animals if ingested. The worm may also carry parasitic nematodes, adding to its danger. Killing the worm requires caution due to its ability to regenerate. 'The thing people need to know is don't kill it, don't squish it, don't cut it up, because it makes three or four more worms, it's asexual reproduction,' Miller said, per NBC 5. 'Tear it in half, now you've got two worms.' Experts recommend placing the worm in a sealed bag with salt or vinegar, freezing it for up to 48 hours, or spraying it with a mixture of citrus oil and vinegar. Handling should be done with gloves, a paper towel, or a stick. Then, wash hands in warm, soapy water and rinse with alcohol or hand disinfectant. Sightings should be reported to the Texas Invasive Species Institute. First introduced to the U.S. in the late 1800s, likely through horticultural plants, the hammerhead worm thrives in hot, humid environments like greenhouses and has spread to tropical and subtropical regions, including Texas. It has been reported from Orange to Uvalde, numerous Gulf Coastal counties, and the DFW area through East Texas. The worms are often found under leaf litter, rocks, or shrubs during the day and may appear on soil, driveways, or sidewalks after heavy rains. Concerned for his dog, children, and garden, Ingle said he's staying vigilant: 'To try to get rid of it. Because I've got a dog, I've got little kids, and I've got a garden, so this thing hates all of those things,' NBC 5 reported. Experts say continuous removal of hammerhead worms is critical to protecting native earthworm populations and mitigating their ecological impact.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SWAT Raid Fallout: McKinney Ordered To Compensate Homeowner
A ruling years in the making affirms property rights in a case previously reported by The Dallas Express. A federal judge has ordered the City of McKinney to pay nearly $60,000 in damages to a woman whose home was destroyed during a 2020 SWAT standoff—despite her having no connection to the fugitive inside. Vicki Baker, a cancer patient and retired grandmother, was preparing to relocate to Montana when police descended on her property. The SWAT team was pursuing her former handyman, who had barricaded himself inside her McKinney home. 'I told them, 'Please don't destroy my house,'' Baker recalled to NBC 5. They did anyway. What followed was a five-year legal battle in which the city refused to pay for the $60,000-plus in property damage, forcing Baker to dip into her retirement savings just to make the home livable again. With the help of the Institute for Justice, Baker took the city to court, arguing that government agents who destroy private property—regardless of motive—should be held financially accountable. 'We're trying to establish that even if the government is acting for a legitimate reason, they must compensate property owners for what they destroy,' said attorney Jeffrey Redfern. The city previously offered a partial settlement, but Baker refused, pushing for full compensation and a broader legal precedent. Last week, a federal judge agreed and ordered McKinney to pay $59,656.69. City officials told NBC 5 they are 'evaluating options for appealing the ruling.' Baker, now retired and living on Social Security, says she fought not just for herself but for others who might one day find themselves in her position. 'It was disastrous for me, but what if it were a single mom with no savings? Someone has to stand up,' she said. The ruling could signal a growing trend of courts reining in unchecked government immunity when innocent citizens bear the cost of public safety operations.
