Flash-Flood Emergencies Sweep Texas Hill Country, One Fatality Reported
The National Weather Service and Texas officials declared flash-flood emergencies across the Hill Country as torrential rain caused rivers to swell, killing one person. Earlier in the week, the Weather Prediction Center warned that a series of storms would bring heavy rain and heightened flash-flood danger to the Hill Country, the Gulf Coast and the Big Bend region, according to FOX Weather. Governor Greg Abbott then activated rescue boats, helicopters, National Guard units and public-safety personnel for Central, West and East Texas, citing forecasts of up to eight inches of rain, as reported by Chron. The agency later issued a rare high-risk warning for excessive rain, forecasting up to 20 additional inches and warning of possible catastrophic flooding, per the New York Times. Authorities placed flash-flood warnings along U.
S. Highway 90 and in surrounding Hill Country areas as rivers continued to rise, according to KSAT. Subsequent flash-flood emergencies prompted evacuations, road closures and rescue operations in several counties, FOX Weather reported. ABC News noted that the state-wide disaster response included rescues of stranded residents. CNN confirmed that at least one person died as the floods intensified.
