Flooding in Texas: Search for Victims Paused Due to Heavy Rains

KERRVILLE, Texas — More heavy rains in Texas on Sunday temporarily paused a weeklong search for victims of catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River and led to high-water rescues elsewhere as officials warned that the downpours could again cause waterways to surge.

It was the first time a new round of severe weather had paused the search since the July Fourth floods, which killed at least 132 people.

Authorities believe more than 160 people may still be missing in Kerr County alone, and 10 more in neighboring areas. According to a news release from Kerr County on Sunday, 106 fatalities have been confirmed, which includes 70 adults and 36 children.

In Kerrville, where local officials have come under scrutiny over the failure to adequately warn residents about the rising water in the early morning hours of July 4, authorities went door-to-door to some homes after midnight early Sunday to alert people that flooding was again possible. Authorities also pushed phone alerts to those in the area.

Search Efforts Paused Due to Flash Flood Warning

During the pause in searches, Ingram Fire Department officials ordered crews to immediately evacuate the Guadalupe River corridor in Kerr County, warning the potential for a flash flood is high. Late Sunday afternoon, the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office announced that search teams in the western part of that county could resume their efforts.

The Ingram Fire Department would resume their search and rescue efforts Monday morning, said agency spokesman Brian Lochte. The search for victims has been ongoing since the July 4 floods, with searchers using helicopters, boats, and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads.

Latest Flooding Damages Dozens of Homes

Gov. Greg Abbott said on X that the state was making rescues in San Saba, Lampasas, and Schleicher counties and that evacuations were taking place in a handful of others. Texas Task Force 1, a joint state and federal urban search and rescue team, had rescued dozens of people in the Lampasas area, Abbott said.

The latest round of flooding damaged about 100 homes and knocked down untold lengths of cattle fencing, said Ashley Johnson, CEO of the Hill Country Community Action Association, a San Saba-based nonprofit. “Anything you can imagine in a rural community was damaged,” she said. “Our blessing is it was daylight and we knew it was coming.”

Weather System Brings Heavy Rains and Flash Floods

The weather system brought multiple rounds of heavy rains and slow-moving storms across a widespread area, pushing rivers and streams over their banks. Heading into the afternoon and evening, the heaviest rains were expected along the I-35 corridor and east, said meteorologist Patricia Sanchez from the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office.

“A few spots might see up to 2 to 4 (inches per hour), pretty much through the evening, before the rain, the coverage of rain and the intensity of the rain, slowly decreases,” Sanchez said. Forecasters warned that the Guadalupe River could rise to nearly 15 feet by Sunday afternoon, about five feet above flood stage and enough to put the Highway 39 bridge under water in Hunt, the small town where Camp Mystic is located along the river.

Rescue Efforts and Evacuations

The rains were also causing other waterways to swell further north in Texas, where emergency crews rescued one motorist who was left stranded in waist-high rapids on a submerged bridge over the Bosque River. The man leaned onto the vehicle for support as crews tried to reach him with life jackets.

In the west Texas city of Sonora, authorities called for evacuations of some neighborhoods due to rising flood waters. In a video posted Sunday afternoon on Facebook, Mayor Juanita Gomez said some water rescues had taken place and a temporary shelter for residents had been opened in the city’s civic center.

Kerrville Residents Receive Support from Police and Alerts

Under heavy rain, Matthew Stone was clearing branches and a log from a storm sewer in front of his home on Guadalupe Street in Kerrville on Sunday as several inches of water pooled up on the road. Multiple houses on the street overlooking the Guadalupe River were severely impacted by the July 4 floods, and Stone had to pull his older neighbors from their home before water overtook it.

He said he felt safe for now. “My wife was freaking out, that’s for sure, but as long as that river is not coming down, we’ll be all right,” he said. “The cops have been coming back and forth, we’re getting lots of alerts, we’re getting a lot of support.”

The Impact of the Floods

The floods laid waste to the Hill Country region of Texas. The riverbanks and hills of Kerr County are filled with vacation cabins, youth camps, and campgrounds, including Camp Mystic, the century-old, all-girls Christian summer camp. Located in a low-lying area along the Guadalupe River in a region known as flash flood alley, Camp Mystic lost at least 27 campers and counselors.

The flood was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, experts said, and moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system. The sheer amount of rain was overwhelming. Former NOAA chief scientist Ryan Maue, a private meteorologist, calculated on July 5 that the storm had dropped 120 billion gallons of water on Kerr County, which received the brunt of the storm.

Conclusion

The flooding in Texas has been devastating, with at least 132 people killed and many more still missing. The search for victims has been ongoing, but has been paused due to heavy rains and flash flood warnings. The latest round of flooding has damaged dozens of homes and knocked down untold lengths of cattle fencing, and rescue efforts are still underway.

The weather system that brought the heavy rains and flash floods is expected to continue, with the heaviest rains expected along the I-35 corridor and east. Forecasters have warned that the Guadalupe River could rise to nearly 15 feet by Sunday afternoon, about five feet above flood stage and enough to put the Highway 39 bridge under water in Hunt, the small town where Camp Mystic is located along the river.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the current situation with the flooding in Texas?

A: The flooding in Texas is still ongoing, with at least 132 people killed and many more still missing. The search for victims has been paused due to heavy rains and flash flood warnings, but rescue efforts are still underway.

Q: What areas have been affected by the flooding?

A: The flooding has affected several areas in Texas, including Kerr County, San Saba, Lampasas, and Schleicher counties. The city of Sonora has also been affected, with authorities calling for evacuations of some neighborhoods due to rising flood waters.

Q: What is being done to help those affected by the flooding?

A: Rescue efforts are still underway, with emergency crews working to rescue those stranded in flooded areas. The state is also providing aid and shelter to those affected by the flooding, with temporary shelters set up in several locations.

Q: What can people do to stay safe during the flooding?

A: People are advised to stay indoors and avoid traveling unless absolutely necessary. Those in flood-prone areas should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice, and should stay tuned to local news and weather reports for updates on the flooding.