Flash floods in South Texas kill at least two, prompt hundreds of rescues
Torrential rain in south-central Texas has caused flash flooding, resulting in two confirmed deaths and more than 230 rescues as authorities deploy boats, aircraft and vehicles.
More than 230 people have been rescued after flash flooding struck south-central Texas, Governor Greg Abbott said Thursday, noting that over 85 boats, 20 aircraft and 200 high-profile vehicles are being used in the response. > "Human life remains the focus right now," Abbott added. A flood watch covering the US-90 corridor west of San Antonio, the Hill Country, the Rio Grande Valley and the southern Edwards Plateau remains in effect until noon Friday, with forecasts calling for an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain and isolated amounts up to 8 inches. The National Weather Service warned that storm activity was increasing and that only a small amount of additional rain could worsen flooding. Two deaths have been confirmed: a 65-year-old man swept away in a mobile home in Kerrville, and a 74-year-old man who died while driving near Uvalde, according to local police. The National Weather Service earlier issued a flash-flood emergency for Kerrville, Ingram and Hunt, which has since expired. River levels rose sharply, with the Guadalupe River cresting at 37.94 feet in Center Point, slightly below last year’s peak. More than 80 people were evacuated from riverside campgrounds, and a family of 42 left a reunion hotel in Comfort after water rose rapidly. Local officials said warning towers installed after last year’s catastrophic floods activated early, giving residents time to evacuate. > "The same circumstances that occurred last year occurred again this morning but this time, our towers intervened and woke people and got them out of the way," said Ian Cunningham, founder and CEO of River Sentry. Kerrville police chief Jerel Haley said the community is still coping with the memory of last July’s floods, which killed at least 130 people. Residents reported receiving multiple phone alerts and texts that helped them avoid danger. Governor Abbott said the state has adopted a more aggressive approach to flood response since last year’s disaster. He urged Texans to stay vigilant over the next 24 hours to avoid traveling through floodwaters. Storms are expected to weaken by Friday afternoon, though lingering rain could still trigger localized flooding because the ground remains saturated.