The death toll from the catastrophic flooding in Texas over the July Fourth weekend rose to 104 on Monday (local time) as search and rescue teams continued to look for missing people by moving through flooded rivers and using heavy machines to clear fallen trees.Forecasters warned that continued rainfall on already saturated ground could worsen flooding and hinder recovery efforts involving over 1,700 personnel. Texas governor Greg Abbott said the risk of heavy rain remains and the number of victims is likely to increase.“There is still a threat of heavy rain with the potential to cause flooding,” AFP reported quoting the governor.
What we know so far:
Death toll rises as search operations continue:
So far, search teams have found the bodies of 84 people in Kerr County alone, including 28 children. The county is home to Camp Mystic and other summer camps. Kerr County officials said 10 campers and one counselor remain missing.The flash floods are among the worst hit in the States in decades. Floodwaters tore through camps and riverside homes, pulling people from cabins and tents, carrying them miles downstream. Some survivors were found clinging to trees.On Monday, the riverbanks were covered with piles of twisted trees, mattresses, refrigerators and other debris. Items like volleyball, canoes and family portraits were among the wreckage.19 deaths were reported in other counties, including Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson.
Questions over evacuation and weather warnings:
Officials said that once the rescue operations end, they will review whether weather alerts were sent out properly and why some camps stayed in place, despite the area’s prolonged history of dangerous floods, known locally as “flash flood alley.”Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said many camps are in areas with poor cell phone service, which made it harder to get warnings.“We definitely want to dive in and look at all those things,” he said. “We’re looking forward to doing that once we can get the search and rescue complete.”Some camps were aware of the dangers and were monitoring the weather. One of the camps relocated people to higher ground before the floods.Senator Ted Cruz said budget cuts to federal emergency agencies did not affect the warnings.“There’s a time to have political fights, there’s a time to disagree. This is not that time,” Cruz said. “There will be a time to find out what could been done differently. My hope is in time we learn some lessons to implement the next time there is a flood.”The National Weather Service began warning about possible flooding on Thursday and issued multiple alerts early Friday, including flash flood emergencies, which signal extreme danger. However, some residents said they never received any notice.President Donald Trump, who signed a disaster declaration for Kerr County, said he plans to visit Texas on Friday. He also said he does not plan to rehire federal meteorologists who were laid off this year. “This was something that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it,” Trump said.The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said local and federal weather services provided sufficient warnings.
Scenes of devastation in flood-hit areas:
Texas Governor, Greg Abbott said more than 36 people are still missing and the number could grow.More than 1,000 volunteers have joined rescue crews in Kerr County alone.Authorities urged the public to stop flying drones over the area after a private drone crashed into a rescue helicopter on Monday. The helicopter had to make an emergency landing and is now out of service.Many residents had little time to flee.Reagan Brown said his elderly parents escaped to higher ground after their house flooded. They then went back to rescue their 92-year-old neighbor from her attic. They later took shelter in a tool shed on higher ground with other neighbours.Elizabeth Lester, whose children were at Camp Mystic and Camp La Junta, said her son had to swim out of his cabin window to survive. Her daughter climbed up a hill as the floodwaters rose around her legs.
