Texas flooding newest: Search for 10 ladies lacking from summer season camp continues as demise toll surpasses 70
A desperate search for at least 10 children campers continued into Sunday, after devastating floods killed at least 79 people in central Texas.
The group of girls and one counselor are missing from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River that was ravaged by the floods, officials said.
At least four girls missing from the summer camp were found dead. At least 21 children were killed in what Texas GOP Congressman Chip Roy called a “once-in-a-century flood.”
Two girls — 13-year-old Blair and 11-year-old Brooke — were among those killed by the floods, their father told CNN on Saturday night. Harber said Blair “was a gifted student and had a generous, kind heart,” and described Brooke as “like a light in any room, people gravitated to her”.
The unexpected flash flooding struck on Friday after torrential rain along the Guadalupe River. The destructive force of the fast-rising waters just before dawn on Friday washed out homes and swept away vehicles.
Death toll reaches 79
At least 79 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the catastrophic floods in Central Texas, officials said on Sunday afternoon.
Of those deaths, 68 are in Kerr County, four are in Travis County, two in Kendall County, three in Burnet County, one in Williamson County, and one in Tom Green County.
More than $32k raised for family who lost daughters in flood
More than $32,000 has been donated to the Harber family, who suffered a devastating loss when their 13-year-old and 11-year-old children were killed in the catastrophic floods.
Brooke, 13, and Blair, 11, were staying at their grandparents’ house in Hunt, Texas, on Friday evening when the rushing waters flooded homes in the neighborhood around 3:30 a.m., Jennifer Harber, the aunt of the two young girls, said in a GoFundMe.
By the time the girls’ parents, who were in a house up the street, realized the direness of the situation, they had to evacuate to safety, unable to reach the two young girls and their grandparents.
Jennifer said Brooke texted family members saying, “I love you,” around 3:30 a.m.
The family is still looking for the grandparents, Mike and Charlene Harber.
Search and rescue look through flooding debris for survivors
Texas Governor warns people to avoid areas as more rain is expected
During a press conference on Sunday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott warned people to stay off lakes and stay out of unfamiliar areas that could potentially face additional flash flooding on Sunday or Monday.
Abbott said people, “need to realize, for one, you’re in an area with land is already saturated, saturated with water. But for another, that when more water comes down, it could lead to rapid flash flooding events.”
National Weather Service sent out flood warnings hours in advance
Meteorologists are pushing back on any allegations or assumptions that the National Weather Service did not inform residents of the impending flash floods in Central Texas over the weekend.
Hours before intense storms dumped rain on the region, the NWS sent out a series of warnings about flash floods – a common occurrence in the area.
An initial flood watch was sent around 1:18 p.m. local time on Thursday.
That was raised to a flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. local time on Friday when storms suddenly engorged the Guadalupe River to a level that has not been seen in years.
Around 5:20 a.m., the NWS declared a flash flood emergency, warning of a dangerous situation.
While there were some staffing shortages at the NWS offices in San Antonio and San Angelo, both offices were equipped with enough staff to cover the storms. Additionally, the office in New Braunfels had extra staff on duty for the storms.
Central Texas sees more rain as rescue efforts continue
As volunteers and officials continue searching for missing individuals, including the 11 girls from Camp Mystic, the Central Texas region is seeing some more rain in the form of scattered thunderstorms.
The National Weather Service has maintained its flood watch advisory and warned that the region could see another two to four inches of rain – though it’s unclear where the rain may fall at the moment.
“It’s hard to say if it’s going to get into Kerr County,” Bob Fogarty, a National Weather Service meteorologist, told the New York Times.
“It might stay further west and stay away from the Guadalupe Basin. It’s just a question of where the rain falls.”
Death toll rises to 70
The death toll from the devastating Texas floods has reached 70 people, according to reports.
At least 21 of those deceased are children.
Hundreds of volunteers search for missing individuals
Hundreds of people in the area impacted by the floods have set out to try and find any survivors of the floods, as the water begins to retreat.
Groups of people scoured the riverbanks of the Guadalupe River on Sunday, seeing if they could find any individuals.
The likelihood of finding survivors decreases every hour that passes, but volunteers are still looking, even to just give family members some closure.
Robert Modgling, a 55-year-old plumber in Hunt, Texas, told the New York Times that he discovered the body of a young girl pinned to a tree.
George W. Bush offers condolences
Former president George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush released a statement sending condolences to the victims of the Texas floods.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of life and the agony so many are feeling. Those who have lost their precious children are facing a grief no parents should ever know. We are grateful to the first responders and volunteers who are working to find the missing and comfort the grieving at Camp Mystic and along the Guadalupe,” Bush said.
“We know our words cannot help, but we believe the prayers of so many Americans will.”
Source: independent.co.uk
