Not less than 109 folks died in flash floods that hit central Texas over the weekend, with a minimum of 161 nonetheless lacking, authorities stated in an replace on Tuesday afternoon.
Gov. Greg Abbott informed reporters in a July 8 press briefing that these figures are more likely to rise, due partially to the world’s reputation with campers.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha stated that a whole bunch of first responders are on the scene in flooded areas across the Guadalupe River, with native, federal, and state personnel working to get better our bodies or find lacking folks.
5 campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic are nonetheless lacking, the sheriff additionally stated. The camp, which is positioned in Hunt, confirmed Monday that a minimum of 27 kids and counselors died within the floods. Identification is pending for 19 adults and 7 kids who have been discovered lifeless.
When requested about those that are lacking, Leitha stated, “It’s onerous to know that quantity. I do know the numbers that we have now discovered, and that’s all I do know.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott deliberate to make one other go to on Tuesday to the century-old, Christian summer season camp for ladies. Officers stated on Monday that 10 campers and one counselor have been nonetheless lacking.
“Our hearts are damaged alongside our households which are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We’re praying for them consistently,” the camp stated in an announcement. “We’ve been in communication with native and state authorities who’re tirelessly deploying in depth assets to seek for our lacking women.
“We’re deeply grateful for the outpouring of assist from group, first responders, and officers at each stage.”
On Sunday, President Donald Trump signed a serious catastrophe declaration for Kerr County and directed the Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) to reply to the floods.
Trump stated he’s planning to go to Texas on Friday and informed reporters that he would have gone sooner however he would have been “of their manner” in the course of the response.
Nineteen deaths have been reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Inexperienced, and Williamson counties, native officers stated on Monday.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) stated that it’s “a miracle extra kids didn’t lose their lives” within the flooding. “I’ve by no means seen something as horrific. The cabins had eight toes of water in them,” Cruz told KPRC.
“The Hill Nation is an unimaginable a part of Texas, a part of the nation,“ he stated throughout a Monday press convention. ”The pure magnificence right here is unimaginable. The camps which have raised generations of little women and little boys and instilled character and love and religion are extraordinary establishments.”
Questions are mounting about what native officers did to warn campers and residents who have been spending the July Fourth vacation weekend within the scenic space lengthy recognized to locals as “flash flood alley.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Monday sent a letter to the Commerce Division, which oversees the Nationwide Climate Service (NWS), about whether or not staffing cuts impacted flood warnings being issued.
NWS issued a flood watch round 2 p.m. on July 3, greater than 12 hours earlier than the flood, for Kerr County, adopted by a flash flood warning for the world about three hours earlier than the river began surging quickly.
Savannah Pointer and The Related Press contributed to this report.
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