Latest news with #WilliamsonCounty
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Yahoo
A teen hero, beloved moms, and military veterans: Remembering Austin-area flood victims
As of Friday, 18 people had been confirmed dead in the July 5 flash floods that tore through the rivers and creeks of Travis, Williamson and Burnet counties. Another four individuals are still reported missing or are unidentified. They are among more than 130 people across the state who died in floods over Fourth of July weekend, with most fatalities confirmed in Kerr County. Among the Austin-area victims were beloved mothers, promising high school students, outdoorsy military veterans and unique characters who were unlike anyone else. Here are their stories. Travis County Alissa Martin, 54 Alissa Martin had a heart full of love, according to her family obituary. The Texas native had a love for life that was 'evident in every aspect of her being.' Martin died in flooding that tore through the Sandy Creek neighborhood in western Leander, where she lived. Martin was 'a remarkable woman with a strong work ethic and a heart full of love.' A member of the Round Mountain Church, she found joy in her faith, according to her obituary. Martin loved her family, and had a passion for tennis, horseback riding and dressage. Martin earned a degree in business administration from Texas State University and was a personal accountant and international director of human relations at NeverFail. She leaves behind her 'a legacy of love,' including her parents, two daughters, two stepchildren, two brothers, and boyfriend. Her stepson, Braxton Jarmon, was also killed in the flood and her stepdaughter, Felicity Jarmon, remains missing. In lieu of flowers, Martin's family is asking for people to donate to groups helping support flood victims. -Keri Heath August "Gus" Panning, 50 August Panning liked to work around his yard, take care of his pets, spend time in the wilderness and play video games, according to his cousin. Kristi Panning described her cousin as reserved but charismatic, down to earth and a 'genuinely good person.' She said he carried himself with charisma and kindness in all that he did. 'He was funny, so positive, just always looking to the bright side of life,' she recalled. Gus Panning was sucked out of his back door when the floodwaters reached his home, according to his cousin. His body was found last Saturday, two miles from his home. Panning was a disabled veteran who spent much of his life near his family in either Big Sandy Creek or Illinois. A natural-born explorer, his childhood was filled with tents, fire pits and cool creek water. He carried his camping hobby into adulthood. A nature lover with an affinity for critters, Panning 'cared for everyone, even animals,' his cousin said. He kept a bearded dragon and pet cats — including one, 'Ghostie,' who had her own Facebook page. Panning also enjoyed games, live streams and pop culture. His Facebook page is full of references to video games, superheroes, Star Wars and animated TV shows. 'August was one of the realest people I've ever known,' one friend, Tiffiney Troy, wrote on his obituary website. 'I'll never listen to Bowie and not think of you. Thank you for the movie nights. Thank you for the Marvel bootcamp. Thank you for being a friend.' -Dante Motley Betty Massey West, 84 A mother, wife, Christian, and 'hoot and a half,' Big Sandy Creek resident Betty West died in the flood along with one of her two sons. The other is still missing. Her daughters, Sherry McCutcheon and Terry Traugott, described their mother as the rock of their family, a person who would talk to a stranger for hours and host any family member who needed a safe place. 'She lived by her heart,' said Traugott, who looked just like Betty, down to her hands. West raised her six children in Austin until McCutcheon was a freshman in high school and the family moved north of the city. She was first married when she was 17 years old, but eventually remarried to her childhood sweetheart, George, whom she had known since second grade, in 1970. For 30 years, West worked as a quality control inspector at Texas Instruments. At work she was known as 'Wild Wild West.' She was also an avid artist who had just started painting mountains. West saw her daughters often. They would bring her a caffeine-free Diet Coke and Chinese takeout – her favorite food. On July 4, McCutcheon washed West's hair as her 'momma' told stories Traugott had never heard. When they drove home, Georgetown fireworks lit up the sky, and the three pulled into a gas station parking lot to watch them. West checked in to make sure her daughters got home before she went to sleep. When water invaded West's home the next morning, 'we know my mama said, 'Okay, we're not going to make it; we're going to heaven today,'' McCutcheon said. West is survived by three of her children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The family is raising $50,000 to cover bereavement costs. -Lily Kepner George Douglass 'Doug' West, 54 George Douglass 'Doug' West was a loving caretaker, talented musician and chef, life-long learner and kind brother, according to his two sisters, Sherry McCutcheon and Terry Traugott. West died in the flood along with his mother Betty Massey West, whom he called Red. His brother, Gary Traugott, is still missing. West worked multiple jobs throughout his life, but spent his 20s as 'Dougzilla,' a guitar player in a band called 'Burnin' Love' with long hair down to his back. A shy man, he wouldn't let his family come and see him perform, worried he'd mess up. His sisters said he knew everything despite never being able to afford college. Terry recalled him telling her about the 'matrix glitch' and researching new topics in his spare time. West cared for his mother, Betty, until the day they died together and protected her fiercely, his sisters said. He took her to all her doctor's appointments and did his own research on her medicine to ensure she was treated properly. After West accurately corrected the doctor, he would consult West about the treatment regularly as if he were a partner, his sisters recalled. West told McCutcheon after a recent appointment that their mother's bloodwork was 'perfect.' McCutcheon told him she was so proud of him and loved him. The last time Traugott saw her brother, on May 29, she brought him his favorite frozen corn and told him she loved him, too. He began to cry. 'I said 'Doug, look at me. We love you.' And he hugged me,' Traugott recalled. West is survived by his three siblings. He will be buried next to his mother, who was always a 'momma's boy,' McCutcheon recalled fondly. The family is raising money to cover bereavement costs. -Lily Kepner Gary Traugott, 60 Gary Traugott remembered by his sisters as a selfless helper and positive force, is still missing after the flood that took his home and the lives of his mother, Betty West, and brother, Doug West. Fondly described as 'corny' by his sisters, Sherry McCutcheon and Terry Traugott, Gary Traugott had a new joke – or three – every time they saw him. When he was five or six years old Traugott wore his 'dancing shoes' everywhere. As an adult, he would still dance to make his family laugh, the sisters said. The kids would squeal when he danced with one shoe. A mechanic, Traugott was the kind of person who 'if your car was broken down, he would come wherever you were,' sister Terry Traugott said, and never act like it put him out. When arthritis forced him out of work, Traugott kept busy caring for his mother and his beloved Black Mouth Cur dogs. He recently helped his sisters make a flowerbed. On July 16, more than a week after he went missing, a white flower appeared on a diamond spire gardenia plant he had recommended growing. Traugott also 'was an artist but didn't know it,' McCutcheon said. He made small clay army cars with soldiers inside that were so realistic she felt she was looking at a picture. On the evening of July 4, Traugott met his mother in the driveway with an umbrella to walk her in as a storm brewed. Uncharacteristically calm, with a 'glow about his face,' he told the sisters to stay safe, one of them recalled. Terry Traugott told her brother she loved him and he said he loved her, too. That was the last time the sisters saw him. They vowed to keep looking until they find his remains. The family is raising $50,000 to cover bereavement costs. -Lily Kepner Braxton Jarmon, 15 Braxton Jarmon was a rising sophomore at Glenn High School in the Leander school district. He was a member of the band and football team. He was described by those who knew him as a joyful, kind and committed person who 'brought a light' to those around him. The Glenn High band community learned Jarmon and his sister were missing through a network of carpool groups, said band director Matthew Garrison. Jarmon balanced his school, football and band with remarkable dedication, and losing him will be a blow to the heart of the community, Garrison said. One day during summer band camp, Garrison noticed Jarmon wearing a shirt that said, 'I'm all in.' 'Braxton, are you 'all in' today?' Garrison had asked him. 'Come on, Mr. Garrison,' Jarmon had told him. 'I'm always 'all in.'' Jarmon's 'all in' personality carried throughout everything he did for the tight-knit band and football community at Glenn High, Garrison said. He helped with equipment and was quick to volunteer. Leander's school board President Anna Smith was heartbroken to hear the news. Her own daughter had marched in band next to Jarmon all season, Smith said. 'He was just a great kid,' Smith said. 'He had so much potential and was just so happy.' The band has created a fundraiser for Jarmon's family and is asking people to donate. -Keri Heath Dan Dailey, 67 Dan Dailey was a 'cowboy at heart.' A Central Texas native, Dailey was committed to his family and had a fierce spirit, according to an obituary written for him and his wife, Virginia or 'Jennie.' Dailey and his wife, who lived in the Big Sandy Creek neighborhood, were high school sweethearts who got married right after graduation. Their lives revolved around their family, according to Dailey's sister-in-law, Nina Warwick. The extended family would get together regularly on Christmas and at summer reunions, she said. 'We grew up with big family Christmases, big family get-togethers,' Warwick said. 'It's just always been about family. We're always taking care of each other because that's what family does. We've always been real close and still are.' Before retiring, Dailey had worked in the maintenance department at the Leander school district, Warwick said. He was 'known for his tough love, protective nature, and fearlessness,' according to the obituary. He was likewise nurturing, hardworking and sacrificed for his family — 'things he didn't brag about, but didn't go unnoticed.' An outdoorsman, Dailey loved to spend his time fishing, hunting and camping, and found joy in bull and horse riding. Dailey and his wife had four children and multiple grandchildren. -Keri Heath Virginia Watts Dailey, 66 Virginia 'Jennie' Dailey was a beautiful soul, according to her sister, Nina Warwick. A Leander native and graduate of Leander High School, Virginia spent her life devoted to her family. 'She would do anything for anybody,' Warwick said. 'She would give when she didn't have much to give. If someone needed something, she would give even if it meant one of her bills was late.' She was the kind of person who would still get you a birthday present, even if you told her not to. Virginia and her husband, Dan, were high school sweethearts who married when she was 18. A retired Leander school district bus driver and custodial staff member, Virginia spent much of her time with her greatest joy: her grandchildren, Warwick said. Christmas was Virginia's favorite time of the year, when the family got together and they honored God. 'She just loved everything about Christmas,' Warwick said. 'She collected angels. Sadly, we haven't found one angel yet in all the debris.' Kind and caring, Virginia loved the color purple and stargazer lilies and dreamed of owning her own home. Warwick was on the phone with her sister just minutes before the flood hit. 'We ended our conversation July 5 at 1:38 in the morning and then 20 minutes later, she was gone,' Warwick said. 'And she had no idea. We weren't talking about the flood. We were just up too late and just talking.' -Keri Heath Felicity Jarmon, 16 Felicity Jarmon a Glenn High School student, went missing along with her brother Braxton, when floodwaters rushed through their Sandy Creek home on July 5. Their stepmother, Alissa Martin, also died in the flood. A family obituary says Felicity was loved by her father and stepmother. In a July 7 Facebook post, Leander school board President Anna Smith mourned the loss of Felicity and her brother. 'The Jarmon family is facing an unimaginable tragedy, and our hearts are with them during this incredibly difficult time,' Smith said. 'We know this is incredibly devastating news for our entire community.' In an interview with the American-Statesman, Smith said her own daughter was a classmate of the siblings and that their deaths have hit the Leander community hard. 'It's definitely devastating,' Smith said. The Glenn High School band organized a fundraiser for the Jarmon family. -Keri Heath Burnet County Malaya Grace Hammond, 17 Malaya Hammond died a hero. When her family's minivan plunged into a raging creek at about 5 a.m. on July 5, she managed to open a stuck door, allowing everyone to escape. While her little sister found dry ground, Hammond herself was swept away, according to family friend Mikki Willis. Willis, who has known the family for years, described Hammond as a role model for her two siblings and for his own children. 'She was just very consistently loving and kind,' Willis said. 'She was destined to do really great things. She was very concerned about the state of our world.' He said Hammond was home-schooled, artistic, musical and kind. She loved dancing and being in nature, and had been studying to be a lifeguard, Willis said. In a video shared with the Statesman, her father, Matthew Hammond, said his daughter was loving and intentional. 'She believed that you don't buy a card,' Hammond said in the video. 'You paint a card. Everything she did was a work of art.' Like her parents, Hammond was a musician and also a beautiful singer, her father said. 'Her ability to harmonize, I think, matched her ability to (connect) with others,' the elder Hammond said. -Keri Heath Preston Prince, 22 Preston Prince "was full of life, purpose, and kindness," his aunt Brandai Prince-Wills wrote on a GoFundMe site she created to help his family pay for his funeral and establish a scholarship in his name. Prince was "known for his big heart, strong work ethic, and love for family and friends,' Prince-Wills wrote. 'Preston made a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. He had dreams, goals, and a future that was just beginning to unfold." Prince died while driving from his home in Kingsland to Ketterman Ranch in Burnet, a wildlife and hunting ranch where he worked as a ranch hand. 'He was part of the heartbeat of this place,' according to a post on the ranch's Facebook page. 'He showed up every day with grit, loyalty, and a quiet strength that made a difference in the lives of everyone around him." Prince's high school friends shared a similar story. "Preston sat behind me and my girl friends in anatomy and was always making us laugh," Courtney Reina wrote in a Facebook post. "He was so kind, smart, funny, and authentically himself." Kendall Wenzel, who worked and went to school with Prince, wrote: "Preston was always such a kind, uplifting individual. Always in a good mood and a pure soul." -Nicole Villalpando Walter Reed, 79 Walter Reed lived in the Cedar Stays RV park near Hamilton Creek in Marble Falls. The owner of the park, Eugene Bible, told KUT Radio that Reed was still in his RV when the floodwaters rose. ' You hear people down here hollering — 'Help! Help!'" Bible said. 'You're just hollering back, 'Just stay put, just stay put,' and that's all you can do.' Reed's family and friends could not be reached for comment. William Govaniavic Venus, 57 U.S. Army veteran and father of four, William Govaniavic Venus was delivering medicine, which he did for a living, when he was swept away by the floodwaters. He was found two days later near Hamilton Creek, a quarter mile away from his car. His son, Will Venus Jr., said he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from not just friends and neighbors, but also strangers who helped find his father. As someone always driving around delivering medicine, the elder Venus was a familiar face to many. He was known for his sincerity and kindheartedness, friends and neighbors say. Christina Porter, chaplain service secretary at the Central Texas VA Health Care System, where Venus frequented, described him in a Facebook post as having a 'kind heart and an infectious spirit.' His neighbor, Karen Miller, recalled him as 'pure sweetness.' There will be a service for Venus on Tuesday, July 22 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, his son announced on Facebook. -Maryam Ahmed Ernest Lelwin Brizendine, 85 Ernest Brizendine was the only resident in his assisted living center who was unable to escape the flood with the help of first responders, according to KXAN. Known to friends as Lee, he served in the United States Navy from 1961 to 1964, according to his obituary. Following his service, he moved to Austin to work for the Austin State Hospital where he worked for years until he retired. In retirement, Brizendine 'found joy and purpose in repairing clocks,' his family wrote in the obituary. He was 'always willing to lend a hand or tinker with a timepiece that needed care.' 'I have enjoyed visiting Lee and will miss his common sense view on life, always extending his knowledge of clocks which led to a great friendship," Lee Dolese, a friend of Brizendine, said in a comment on the post. Brizendine is survived by two children, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. -Dante Motley Williamson County Jay Dunn, 74 Jay Dunn was a magnet that drew people to him. "Everyone loved being around him, and you could see it," Dunn's son, Brandon Dunn, said of his dad. That was evident when he and his brother and all of their high school buddies searched tirelessly to find the elder Dunn after the floods inundated his property near Brushy Creek in Leander. "He was just fun and loving and charismatic," Dunn's son said. "He was always a good time." The Dunn house became a favorite gathering spot for the brothers and their Leander High School classmates. "He treated them like they were his kids," Brandon Dunn said of his father. Dunn was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War as a master mechanic working on tanks. He turned his service into working as a mechanic at a Mazda dealership in Georgetown before he retired. "He always had a knack for fixing things," his son said. "He could literally fix anything and everything." He was most recently tinkering around on a hydraulic lift for a tractor. Dunn loved to go fishing and hunting as well as practice target shooting. He collected antique muskets, the kind you would have to pack with gun powder. He also loved to ride motorcycles and dirt bikes. "He loved his property," Brandon Dunn said. Dunn is survived by sons Brandon and Drew Dunn and his grandchildren, Beau and Stella. -Nicole Villalpando Kaitlyn Marie Swallow, 22 Kaitlyn Swallow, known as Katie to her friends and family, was a free spirit. The 2021 Liberty High School graduate expressed herself through theater, beauty and fashion, and visual and graphic arts. She loved anime, horror movies, graphic design, video games and live music. "To know Katie was to know a free spirit — funny, bold, creative and unapologetically herself," her family wrote in her obituary. After high school, she spent some time with her father, David Swallow, and his wife Emy and her two step-sisters, Faith and Hope, in Tennessee. Faith Newlin, her step-sister, set up a GoFundMe in Swallow's name to raise money to help spread awareness about the dangers of flooding through TEXSAR Inc. "To me Kaitlyn was a sister and a best friend," she wrote. Swallow returned to Texas in 2024 to be with her mother, Sarah Swallow, and brothers Isaac and Ender, and worked as an assistant manager at Marco's Pizza in Leander. She loved paranormal tours, tattoo parlors, card game nights, meeting new people and "sharing her wonderfully quirky personality," her family wrote. "Katie was lost tragically along with many beautiful people and children in the flood waters of what should have been a celebratory weekend," her family wrote in the obituary. "We like to imagine she is off and away on new adventures in some ethereal and magical place, sword in hand and full of power.' -Nicole Villalpando Sherry Richardson, 64 Sherry Richardson worked as a human resources administrator at Hope House, a facility near Liberty Hill for people with severe mental disabilities. Erland Schulze, Hope House's development director, described Richardson as a bubbly, kindhearted and hardworking employee who had quickly taken to the center's mission of serving those often disregarded by society. 'We're gonna miss her,' Schulze said. 'She took her job seriously and she loved it.' Richardson's cabin on Hope House's 11-acre campus began to flood when a nearby creek overflowed, according to her daughter, Delilah Greenslet. The cabin was later found about a mile from its original location with the remains of Richardson and her beloved Yorkie, Omie Mae, still inside. Richardson, who was from Louisiana, had moved to Round Rock to be close to Greenslet but then relocated to Liberty Hill for her job, Greenslet said. "She wanted to help others,' she said. 'That's who she was." A lifelong lover of water, Richardson was glad to live near the creek that ultimately claimed her life. She had five grandchildren but especially loved to dote on Greenslet's 8-year-old daughter and would often braid her hair, Greenslet said. "She loved music, she loved the Beatles and she had a tattoo of some of the Beatles lyrics on her,' Greenslet said. She said her mother also loved to bake and was known for her "famous" chicken wings. But her greatest legacy to her family was her crochet work, Greenslet said. "I am heartbroken," Greenslet said. "Mom was my best friend and confidante and the rock for our family, and I will really miss her.' -Claire Osborn and Emiliano Tahui Gómez Kent Wattinger, 36 Kent Wattinger died while saving his wife from the torrent of water that hit their car while driving over a bridge in Marble Falls, the New York Times reported. Wattinger was a software engineer at Amazon robotics who once volunteered to teach robotics to elementary school kids in Round Rock with his wife, Samantha. Wattinger was also a biker and spent his free time cherishing his family. Bonnie Allington Orenstein wrote on social media that Wattinger was 'the kind of guy that you don't forget.' 'Anyone who met Kent knew right away that he had a heart of gold,' Orenstein wrote. 'He gave the gift of good memories and I pray that it's those memories that help carry his friends and family members through this awful tragedy and grief.' He is survived by his wife, a teenage son and a 10-year-old daughter. -Dante Motley This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Who died in the Central Texas floods? Remembering lives lost
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nolensville leaders warning drivers to use caution following lightning strike, crash on Nolensville Road
NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Changes are coming to one intersection in Williamson County after an accident ignited traffic safety concerns for the road. Even though the fix to this traffic problem could be coming soon, Nolensville leaders are warning drivers to be careful and stay alert. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More Several weeks ago, lightning struck a traffic light at Nolensville Road and York Road, leaving the town without a light and temporary flashing beacons as a replacement. Nolensville Road currently has a yellow beacon while York Road flashes red. A serious crash near that intersection is prompting leaders to tell drivers to use caution until they get it replaced. Nolensville town manager Victor Lay said that means drivers need to be prepared to stop at the flashing lights and yield properly on each side. 'What I have seen sometimes is that those on Nolensville Road don't know how to treat that yellow flashing beacon, and sometimes they stop and treat it like a four-way stop,' Lay said. 'Sometimes they drive it correctly, and that might create some confusion.' ⏩ Lay said that over the next six months, a portion of York Road will be shut down completely to accommodate construction for widening the road. He wants drivers to expect the closure around fall break so as not to disrupt the regular school schedule as much as possible. Lay said he expects new parts for the light to be installed by July 24. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Lost everything': Williamson Co. family reflects after San Gabriel flooded home
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) —The San Gabriel River rose to record levels on July 5, which caused evacuations, death and destruction in Williamson County. 'That bottom building that metal building that is our home,' said Montana Perales, who lived along the river in Weir, which is in Williamson County. Perales said it's hard to think about the impact the flooding had on her family. 'It would have been over my head,' said Perales as she described how high the water got in her downstairs apartment. 'It is devastating.' Her husband, three kids and their dog all had to leave their apartment when water started to rise. 'We started packing up as little as we could and we grabbed a few clothes and I grabbed my kids' favorite stuffies,' Perales said. They managed to get out OK, but their home was flooded. 'I mean we lost everything,' Perales said. 'All of our furniture, our main family vehicle.' LIVE BLOG: Texas community continues to grieve, works to assess damages after flood event She lost clothes, appliances, toys for her kids and their beds as well. She said it's difficult to answer her kids when they ask why they are staying in a hotel for so long. 'It's hard on them for sure,' Perales said. 'We had just bought my son a new bed, a big boy bed. He's 3, and he was so excited about it, and of course that is ruined.' On Friday the city of Leander held a press conference to talk about the flooding along the San Gabriel. 'It's never been this high,' said Leander Mayor Christine DeLisle.'I have lived here 15 years and I have never seen it this high.' Perales said she's now staying positive as they work to rebuild their life. 'We are very blessed that we were all able to make it out. Not many people were as blessed as we are, but now we don't know what to do,' Perales said. Perales said her husband was looking for work, but he has now been focused on the aftermath of the flooding. He works as a software developer and is now trying to find a job. If you would like to help the family you can donate here. The Williamson County Office of Emergency Management said on social media Gov. Greg Abbott announced Williamson County was added to the updated Presidential Disaster Declaration after the July 5 flood. 'Residents can now apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at or by calling 800-621-3362.' In another social media post, the emergency management said the Williamson County Commissioners Court 'approved the extension of its local state of disaster for an additional 60 days during a special meeting on Friday, July 11.' Additionally, commissioners approved up to $200,000 in landfill vouchers that will assist with flood clean-up. To learn more about the vouchers, visit the county website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Bloomberg
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Trade War? No Problem—If You Run a Trade School
By In the past 15 years, hundreds of factories with thousands of new jobs have popped up along the Interstate 35 corridor in central Texas. Among them is a $17 billion plant under construction by Samsung Austin Semiconductor in Williamson County, north of the state capital. It won't open until next year, but it's already set off a mini building boom among potential suppliers and other South Korean companies that want to be nearby. Beyond proximity to the new plant, industrial companies are drawn to the region for its cheap land, light regulatory touch, lack of corporate income tax and—increasingly—a local population with the know-how to perform complicated manufacturing processes. Many of the workers who join that plant (and others in the state) will likely have gone through the labs and classrooms at Texas State Technical College, a vocational school with its flagship campus in Waco, about halfway between Austin and Dallas. There, and at TSTC's 10 other locations, students train for careers running the array of systems that power modern factories and other industrial facilities, often learning on the same equipment they'll find on the job. They can earn a certificate in as few as two semesters and an associate degree in four; others already in the industry sign up for shorter programs to refine their skills midcareer.
Sky News
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Sky News
Eight more deaths confirmed in Texas floods - bringing total to at least 90
At least 90 people have died in the flash floods that have left a trail of destruction across Texas, officials said. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said on Monday that 75 bodies had been recovered from the area, which is seven more than the previous figure for the county. Sheriff Leitha said the number of dead includes 48 adults and 27 children. The total figure is seven higher than the 68 deaths that had earlier been confirmed in Kerr County. In a separate news conference in Williamson County, officials there said a second person had been confirmed dead in the area. One official warned that debris was posing a threat to rescuers out searching for bodies, adding: "The bodies that we're looking for could be hidden beneath 20ft of mud, trees and debris". An official also warned rescuers had to be wary of "snakes and skunks" in the water. He asked people to keep away from the floodwater. One death had earlier been confirmed in Tom Green, while there had been four fatalities in Burnet, six fatalities in Travis County and two in Kendall. Sheriff Leitha has said 15 of the 90 confirmed dead were still unidentified. In Kerr County, at least 27 deaths were confirmed after some of the worst flooding struck a girls' summer camp called Camp Mystic. Among those killed were campers as young as eight, a camp counsellor and the camp's director. At least 41 people are still missing in the state - including 10 girls from the camp. Texas Senator Ted Cruz spoke at the same news conference where the latest death figures were confirmed and said: "Texas is grieving right now, the pain, the shock of what has transpired these last few days has broken the heart of our state. "Those numbers [the number of dead] are continuing to go up... that's every parent's nightmare, every mum and dad." He said he had picked up his own daughter from a camp in the area last week. 3:25 Mr Cruz added: "Over the last several days, I've spoken to multiple parents, scared out of their minds. "There's still ten girls and one counsellor from Camp Mystic that are not accounted for. "And the pain and agony of not knowing your child's whereabouts, it's the worst thing imaginable." He added: "You know what I'd do? What I did when this happened? Just go hug your kids. "Because I've got to tell you, I hugged my girls with tears in my eyes." The flooding comes after the Trump administration made cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) - with Texas officials having criticised the weather service by claiming it failed to warn the public about the impending danger. Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer asked the Department of Commerce's acting inspector general on Monday to probe whether staffing vacancies at the NWS's San Antonio office contributed to "delays, gaps, or diminished accuracy" in forecasting the flooding. The NWS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Mr Schumer's letter but earlier defended its forecasting and emergency management. Apparently referencing people who might claim the Trump administration's cuts played a role in worsening disaster, Mr Cruz said at the news conference: "I think this is not a time for partisan finger-pointing and attacks." Dalton Rice, the city manager of Kerrville in Kerr County, was asked whether evacuation warnings could have been issued earlier. He said: "It's very tough to make those calls because we also don't want to cry wolf. "You know, we want to make sure that we activated [it] at the right time." He added: "We had first responders getting swept away, responding to the first areas of rainfall. That's how quick it happened. "They were driving to these areas and one of them got swept off the road." Texas Game Wardens had arrived at Camp Mystic on Friday afternoon and began evacuating campers. A rope was tied so girls could hang on as they walked across a bridge, the floodwaters rushing around their knees. Elinor Lester, 13, said she was evacuated with her cabinmates by helicopter after wading through floodwaters. She recalled startling awake around 1:30am as thunder crackled and water pelted the cabin windows. Ms Lester was among the older girls housed on elevated ground known as Senior Hill. Cabins housing the younger campers, who can start attending at age eight, are situated along the riverbanks and were the first to flood, she said. "The camp was completely destroyed," she said. "It was really scary." Her mother, Elizabeth Lester, said her son was nearby at Camp La Junta and also escaped. A counsellor there woke up to find water rising in the cabin, opened a window and helped the boys swim out. 1:04 Camp La Junta and nearby Camp Waldemar said in Instagram posts that all campers and staff were safe. It comes after Texas agriculture minister Sid Miller told Fox News that cattle and livestock were found on the "tops of trees" in the state due to a "26ft wall of water". More heavy rain is expected in the region over the next two days, with flood alerts in place until 7pm local time today. US President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration yesterday and says he will "probably" visit Texas on Friday. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
