Search for flood survivors in Texas is intensifying
The search for Texas flood survivors has intensified as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for counties near Texas.
Historic flash floods swept across central Texas, leaving at least 81 people dead. Authorities are looking for people who are still missing, including 10 children and counselors from Camp Mystic, a Christian girl camp on the edge of the Guadalupe River.
USA Today readers have asked a lot of questions about flooding and recovery efforts.
Here are some answers. Do you have more questions? Fill out this form to check for updates as we cover more of your questions.
Why was there no warning?
The extreme flooding began around 4am on July 4th. This is because the storm caused more than 10 inches of rain on Texas Hill Country.
State emergency management officials warned that as early as July 2, the West and Central Texas were facing threats of heavy rain and flash flooding, citing the National Weather Service’s forecast before the holiday weekend.
On July 3, meteorologists predicted “slight” risks, or four level 2, due to flash floods. However, there were no predictions for catastrophic flooding. On the same day, the National Weather Service released eight Hill County County “Flood Watches” including Kerr. The recommendation predicted 1-3 inches of rain and up to 7 inches of rain in some locations.
The Austin office of the Weather Bureau issued a “plash flood emergency” bulletin at 4:03am on Friday.
“This is a flash flood emergency in southern Kerr County, including Hunt,” the bulletin said. “This is a particularly dangerous situation. Look for the highlands now!”
What is the current number of deaths?
On Sunday evening, state and local governments said at least 81 people had died in the flood. As of Sunday afternoon, Carr County Sheriff Larry Leita, who had the worst flooding, said authorities had recovered the bodies of 40 adults and 28 children.
What is being done to save the people in the community?
Search and rescue efforts are currently underway for those who are still missing.
The crew worked round the clock to cross the broken, swollen waterways and wash riverbanks strewn with covered trees and tiled bleaches. As of Sunday, about 650 people had been rescued, officials said.
How bad was the flood, and is the weather expected to get worse?
Gauge on the Guadalupe River near Carville surged from under 2 feet to over 34 feet on July 4 in just an hour.
On Sunday, forecasters expected a few more inches of rain and warned of additional flooding and worsening ground conditions.
Are there any floods in the San Antonio area? Has Brady, Texas been affected by the flood? Which Texas cities have flooded?
Several cities in the Central Texas region between San Antonio and Austin suffered relentless rain over the weekend.
At least four cities in the area received more than 10 inches of rain over Independence Day weekend. Liberty Hill, 20.6. Lakeway, 13.5; Kerrville, 11.9; and Leander, 10.5.
What can I do to help?
The Red Cross, World Central Kitchen and the Carr County Relief Fund are making donations to their website.
The crowdfunding website GoFundMe has a page of verified fundraisers related to flooding in central Texas. According to GoFundMe, the page will be updated once the fundraiser is verified.
Austin Pet Alive! As of July 5th, it reported that it had taken over 50 animals from Kerr and Williamson County. In an update on July 6th, the shelter said it was coordinating a volunteer search and rescue group to find animals along the riverbank. The shelter also said it is seeking donations on its website to provide support to families who have lost their pets, including body recovery and cremation services.
The Salvation Army KROC Center in Kerrville coordinates and accepts donations of fresh food, personal hygiene products, diapers and other items. The organization provides regular updates to its Instagram pages.
