Southcentral Texas is grappling with severe flooding, a year after a similar disaster claimed over 130 lives. This time, Gov. Greg Abbott has confirmed the loss of at least one life due to the floods.
Rescue operations are in full swing, with more than 80 rescues reported. The governor’s office announced that over 1,300 responders and 46 boats have been deployed to mitigate the impact.
Flood alerts are widespread across Texas, particularly affecting areas from Kerrville south to Uvalde and extending to Laredo. In Uvalde County, floodwaters have inundated roads and fields, nearly reaching rooftops, as shown in a video by Texas Department of Public Safety.
The current flooding is affecting some areas that were already hit on Wednesday, with the National Weather Service in San Antonio and Austin reporting ongoing showers and thunderstorms exacerbating the situation.
Local NPR stations report that some residents claim the flooding surpasses last year’s levels. In Kerrville, high waters have mostly receded, but the police department warns against unnecessary travel, due to ongoing road and bridge closures.
“There is a lot of people driving around to take a look and that is not helpful,” local police stated. Meanwhile, at least one summer camp has evacuated, and state officials note improved safety measures due to increased resources for disaster response.
A dramatic rise in the Guadalupe River’s level was recorded, going from 5.46 feet to 37.05 feet in just three hours near Comfort, Texas, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Flood sirens were heard Thursday morning in the town, with the Comfort Volunteer Fire Department urging residents to stay off the roads, as shown in a video of the fast-moving waters.
“Even if the rain has stopped where you are, water levels are likely to continue surging throughout the day as runoff from upstream moves through our creeks and rivers,” the department cautioned.
Gov. Abbott warned of potentially record-breaking flood levels, explaining, “The Fourth of July floods last year had rainfall of 20.29 inches. The expected rainfall during this rainstorm is expected to be more than 30 inches,” as noted by the Texas Newsroom.
Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp, remains closed following the tragic loss of 25 campers and two counselors last year when a sudden flood hit the Guadalupe River. More heavy rainfall is expected in the Texas Hill Country, with the storm predicted to move toward the Big Bend region on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
