President Trump, First Lady Melania visits Texas after a disastrous flood
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump toured flood damage in Kerr County, Texas on Friday afternoon.
fox-5 dc
Heavy rains and new floods in central Texas on Sunday prompted rapid water rescue and hampered a rigorous search for victims of the flood that cleaned the area more than a week ago, killing more than 100 people and leaving the devastation that followed.
All search and recovery operations along the Guadalupe River in Carr County have been suspended. County officials said in a social media post Sunday that rescue personnel, equipment and vehicles should be “removed from the river area immediately.” We warned that up to 2-4 inches of rain could fall per hour.
“Currently, volunteering is suspended until further notice. All self-deployment volunteers should also be aware of this warning for safety,” the post states. “Life safety is our number one priority.”
The city of Carville posted a video on Water’s social media running down the streets on Sunday. The National Weather Service warned that localized heavy rains in 2-4 inches of isolated areas – 9-12 inches – could lead to flash floods. The Floodwatch was valid until 7pm on Sunday.
In Ingram, six miles east of Kerrville, the Ingram Fire Station warned that it was not the time for residents to try to video or photograph the rising waters.
“Today, we are looking at the same weather patterns we experienced on July 4th — and we know how quickly it became fatal,” the department warned in a social media post. “This is not entertainment. It’s a life-threatening situation. Your curiosity puts your life and the lives of our first counterparts at serious risk.”
The confirmed death toll from the July 4 flood rose to 129 on Saturday. Kerr was one of more than 12 counties listed in the Weather Service Advisory.
development:
Greg. Greg Abbott said Swift Water Rescues are ongoing in Lampasas County, about 100 miles northeast of Kerrville.
The kerr Carr County Sheriff’s Office issued a “Code Red” message on Sunday. “This is not an evacuation, it’s a preparation notice,” the sheriff’s office said in a social media post. “Be prepared to evacuate along the Guadalupe River due to bad weather and flooding.”
Due to the threat of flooding, the candlelight vigil planned for Sunday in Ingram has been postponed. No new dates were announced.
Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem defended FEMA’s response to floods on Sunday, saying this is the fastest year in which resources have been deployed to support natural disasters.
Noem, who appeared in NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” denied that a memo she issued in June in June slowed the agency’s response to the tragedy, demanding approval for all FEMA spending over $100,000. She also denied allegations that the FEMA call centers are not completely staffed.
“These claims are absolutely wrong,” Noem said. “There were resources from the Department of Homeland Security within just one or two hours of the flood.”
Matthew Stone, who was cleaning up the storm sewer near a Carville home overlooking the Guadalupe River on Sunday, told The Associated Press that he would have to pull his older neighbors from his home when the flood hits July 4th. He said he hoped the situation wouldn’t be that dramatic with the latest rain.
Kerr County officials are being scrutinized for the timing of the warnings and warnings prior to the July 4 flood. Stone said that wasn’t a problem on Sunday.
“We’re fine,” he said. “The police are coming and going. We get a lot of alerts. We get a lot of support.”
In Ingram, six miles east of Kerrville, the fire department has published an overview of what life is like since floods began to ring before dawn on July 4th.
“It all started with a quiet early morning time – 3:15 am – when we realized we were knocking on the door, screaming in the darkness, and begging our family to leave before we were too late, the Ingram Fire Station posted on social media.
“The sounds from that night – screams, rushing, calling for help – will stay with us forever, training will prepare you for the weight of witnessing so many losses.
Since then, posts have continued saying, “Everything was blurry.” The search efforts continued, “It doesn’t stop until everyone is explained.” We owe them that. We owe it to their families.”
The item ends with a request. “Don’t forget Ingram. Kerrville. Hunt. Center Point. Kerr County. We’re still here. We’re still fighting.
Kerr County’s death toll increased 67 adults and 36 children, according to the county’s Joint Information Center. This includes at least 27 campers and counselors. Camp Mystic is an All Girls Christian Camp.
Many residents remained missing, but it was not clear how many people safely fled before the disaster. Authorities had more flood problems.
“There is growing confidence that a total of 1-3 inches of rainfall could fall into something already saturated,” the county said in a statement on its website. The statement urged residents to monitor weather service alerts and “keep safety.”
The deaths in the camp surprised and saddened the world. Mourners include “mysterious girls” whom former campers call themselves. They remember the innocence of places and time, saying they found the best version of themselves, the place they created who they were.
Allie Coates, now 25 years old and a social media manager in Los Angeles, still has a silver bracelet filled with the charm of camping time, including M, the most improved M in canoes.
“It was a safe space that was strange and annoying that we could be stupid and become ourselves,” Coates told USA Today. “Just to become a girl.” Click here for more details.
– – Laura Trujillo
Chris Boyer, executive director of the Search and Rescue Association, said past disasters leave families who have been waiting months, decades, and even decades to recover their loved ones.
He pointed out Hurricane Helen. Hurricane Helene was not found at least five people, including Yefenni and Nobitonia. And 20 years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005 and killed more than 1,800 people, about 30 have yet to be identified, said Jason Melancon of the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office.
For ground authorities, especially in more rural areas, it is a “very emotional decision” to decide whether to cancel search parties or shift them to full recovery mode, Boyer said.
“We will not explain how you are looking for their loved ones and how to tell families that they may never recover the ruins,” said Boyer, who led the crew recovered from an air disaster. Click here for details.
– – Rick Jarvis and Christopher Kang
