At least 79 killed, and countless July Fourth visitors and campers missing, as flash floods wreak havoc in Texas. US President Donald Trump called it a “100-year catastrophe” and said that he would visit the flood-hit areas “probably on Friday.” “This is 100-year catastrophe, and it’s just so horrible to watch,” Trump said, adding that he would visit “probably on Friday.”Rescuers in Texas scrambled on Sunday to locate dozens of missing people, including children. The search efforts grew urgent as forecasters warned of more heavy rain and fresh flooding.What we know so far:
‘You will see death toll rise today’
Texas public safety chief Freeman Martin warned that the death toll would rise. “You will see the death toll rise today,” Martin said.Meanwhile, Texas governor Greg Abbott said, “Across the state, in all the areas affected by flooding, there are 41 known missing.”
Heavy rain at wrong time in a flood-prone place
The flash floods in Texas struck at the height of the long holiday weekend, catching many people as they slept. The disaster unfolded in the Texas Hill Country, a region especially vulnerable to flash floods because its dry, compacted soil causes rainwater to race across the surface rather than being absorbed. A powerful overnight storm unleashed nearly 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain early Friday morning, setting the stage for devastation. Authorities had issued a flood watch on Thursday, but by 4am Friday (local time) the National Weather Service escalated it to a dire warning, citing catastrophic risks to life and property. Within little more than an hour, residents of Kerrville City saw water levels surge alarmingly, as runoff from the hills sent torrents into the Guadalupe River. The river rose an astonishing 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes, overwhelming the region.
