Latest news with #floodRelief
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jennifer Garner, Matthew McConaughey, And Khloe Kardashian Break Silence On Texas Flood Tragedy
As Texas grapples with one of the deadliest floods in recent memory, a wave of celebrity voices is rising in solidarity. Hollywood stars Jennifer Garner, Matthew McConaughey, and Khloé Kardashian have broken their silence following the catastrophic Texas flood that swept through the state, killing dozens and displacing thousands. With emotional tributes and urgent calls for support, each star has taken to social media to express their heartbreak and rally for help. Their responses have added a powerful spotlight to a growing crisis, amplifying the need for nationwide attention and aid. Over the July 4 weekend, parts of Central Texas were hit by heavy storms that caused sudden and deadly flooding. In Kerr County, nearly 15 inches of rain fell in just a few hours, making rivers rise dangerously fast. The Guadalupe River climbed more than 25 feet in less than an hour, catching many people off guard. One of the hardest-hit places was Camp Mystic, a popular Christian summer camp for girls, where several children and a counselor went missing. In total, at least 80 people have died across the region, and more than 40 are still unaccounted for. Entire homes were swept away, roads were destroyed, and families were left stranded. Rescue teams using helicopters and boats have saved over 850 people so far. The flood is now being called one of the worst natural disasters to hit Texas in recent years. As more updates regarding the Texas flood continue to make the headlines, many A-listers have taken to social media to lend their voices. On Sunday, July 6, actor McConaughey, a proud Texas native from Uvalde, took to X to deliver an emotional plea. 'At least 70 lives have been lost, many more are unaccounted for, and countless Texans are hurting — inside and out,' he began. The 55-year-old continued, urging people to step up and help in any way they could. 'It's gonna be a long road ahead, but right now the shock, the pain, and the chaos need the steady hand of a neighbor.' McConaughey went on to praise the resilience of his fellow Texans, describing them as 'some of the most resilient and generous people on the planet.' Actress Jennifer Garner wasn't left out. The 53-year-old, born in Houston, expressed her sorrow with a brief but impactful message on her Instagram stories. 'Texas. God, be near,' she wrote. Meanwhile, pop superstar Shakira used her rescheduled San Antonio concert to lend her support. Before she took to the stage at the Alamodome on July 5, she took to X to express her grief. 'Dear San Antonio, Our hearts and prayers are with those affected by the flood in Central Texas,' the star wrote. She also announced that a portion of the evening's ticket sales would be donated directly to Catholic Charities of San Antonio, which is spearheading emergency relief efforts in the areas most severely affected. Socialite Khloé Kardashian, whose natural empathy resonates strongly with her role as a mother, also shared her grief over the impact of the Texas flood on children. 'I can't stop thinking about the families in Texas and the overwhelming pain they're going through,' she wrote on her Instagram Stories. 'As a mother, this kind of tragedy hits in a place words can't reach. The loss of those sweet, innocent children is something I can't fully process.' Kardashian added, 'My heart is so deeply aching for every parent, every family member, and every community. Please know that so many of us are carrying you in our hearts right now and I'm praying with everything I have in me for those still missing, Texas, we are holding you close.' The calls for help have sparked financial and logistical responses. On July 6, President Trump declared a Major Disaster, activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid rescue efforts. In addition, the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Houston Texans committed a combined $1.5 million to support immediate assistance and long-term resources. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders also donated another $500,000 in partnership with The Salvation Army. Meanwhile, at least 400 first responders from 20 agencies have already conducted over 525 rescue operations, saving more than 850 people within 36 hours. The recovery ahead will be long, involving rebuilding homes, schools, and lives.
Telegraph
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Farmer saves stranded neighbour with drone
A jerry-rigged drone has been used to airlift a man who was trapped on a rooftop in southern China by rising flood waters. Footage has emerged showing the young man being rescued on Tuesday evening when a neighbour spotted him calling for help from the roof of his crumbling two-story house in the city Liuzhou. Fast-flowing waters coursing through the streets had prevented rescue speedboats from coming to the man's assistance for the previous hour. The neighbour, who gave his name as Mr Lai, devised a rescue plan using his agricultural drone, a device capable of carrying weights of up to 100kg, which is normally used to haul bricks and cement or spray pesticides. Mr Lai fashioned a makeshift harness by tying a sandbag to one end of the drone's lifting rope and attaching a safety buckle, local media said. Safe landing He flew the drone to the man and instructed him over the phone to sit on the sandbag and to tie his hands and feet with the safety buckle to the drone's rope. Footage captured by a witness shows the drone then soaring 65ft into the air with the man hanging underneath, his legs dangling through the harness. The drone then navigates through trees and pylons before safely depositing its passenger on a road below. The rescue operation took less than two minutes. Mr Lai, who first learnt how to pilot a drone in August, admitted what he did was illegal but said he feared the house could collapse at any moment. 'I know that manned drones are illegal, but at the time I was worried about the house collapsing and was eager to save people, so I don't recommend that you imitate it,' he told The Beijing News. China hit by storms Over the past two days, 13 major rivers in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Hainan were hit by storms and had risen above their warning levels, state television reported, citing the Ministry of Water Resources. Record downpours in Rongjiang, in the south-east of the country, left six dead and forced more than 80,000 people to flee their homes. The amount of rain that fell over 72 hours was double the city's average for June.
