At least 80 people are dead and others missing after heavy rain lashed Texas, leading to “catastrophic” flooding.
By far the greatest number of fatalities occurred in Kerr County, where 68 people at last word are believed to be dead, according to officials, including 28 children. At least 41 people are missing statewide as of late Sunday afternoon, officials said.
President Trump has signed a disaster declaration for Kerr County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is on the ground there, the Department of Homeland Security said Sunday.
The death toll now stands at 78 in the wake of torrential rains and the resulting flooding in Texas.
By far the greatest number of fatalities occurred in Kerr County, where 68 people are believed to be dead, according to officials, including 28 children.
In Travis County, five people are believed dead, with three dead in Burnet County and one death each reported in Tom Green and Williamson counties, officials have said.
At least 80 people have died in Texas as a result of the catastrophic flooding in the state. The death toll continues to rise as officials in affected areas conduct search and rescue operations.
By far the greatest number of fatalities occurred in Kerr County, where at least 68 people are believed to be dead, according to officials.
Deaths were also reported in Travis County, Williamson County, Burnet County and Tom Green County.
Officials in Kerr County, Texas, said in an update on Sunday that search and rescue operations are continuing as additional rain impacts already flood-hit areas.
“There was additional rain in the upper Guadalupe basin this afternoon, leading to a rise in Johnson Creek,” the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a post on Facebook.
The agency said the additional rainfall may lead to a rise of one to two feet downstream when it enters the Guadalupe River in Ingram.
“Please be aware if you are near the Guadalupe River or Johnson Creek,” the sheriff’s office said.
Speaking with reporters before boarding Air Force One on Sunday, President Donald Trump spoke about the flooding in Texas, saying he’ll “probably” visit the state on Friday.
“We’re working very close with representatives from Texas, and it’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible,” Trump said, saying he’s spoken with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Asked if the meteorologists at the National Weather Service who were impacted by the federal cuts should be hired back, Trump initially said he didn’t know but eventually said no.
Trump also wouldn’t answer if he was working on plans to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as internal documents show the agency isn’t properly staffed.
“Well, FEMA is something we can talk about later, but right now they’re busy working, so we’ll leave it at that,” the president said.
The number of deaths due to the flooding in Texas is now at least 78, according to the latest information from state officials.
Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd said during an afternoon press conference with Gov. Greg Abbott in Austin that there were at least 69 people confirmed dead, based on information that was “a few hours hold” at the time they prepared for the conference.
Those numbers included 59 confirmed dead in Kerr County, according to Abbott and Kidd, with 41 missing across the state.
In a separate press conference the began just as Gov. Abbott’s was ending, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said that as of 1:30 p.m. local time, there were 68 dead in the county, including 28 children – nine more Kerr County deaths that previously reported.
Eighteen adults and 10 children are pending identification, according to Leitha.
Leitha added that 10 campers and one counselor at Camp Mystic remain unaccounted for. Earlier Sunday, 11 campers remained unaccounted for. It’s not known if the single camper was found alive or is among the dead.
Gov. Abbott said only people with “specific information” about a missing person should contact officials in order to prevent unnecessary calls from potentially interfering with recovery efforts.Show Less
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other officials are currently conducting a press conference in Austin to share the latest information regarding the flooding in Texas.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been activated in Texas, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The activation comes in the wake of President Trump on Sunday signing a disaster declaration for hard-hit Kerr County, where at least 59 people have died as a result of the torrential rains and resulting flooding.
The U.S. Coast Guard is also helping with search-and-rescue operations in the area, according to DHS, using helicopters and other aircraft equipped with thermal cameras to search for survivors.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is “on the ground with Governor Abbott and local leaders on Saturday and will continue to work to make sure Texas has the resources needed to respond and recover,” the DHS statement said.
President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Sunday morning that he has signed a “Major Disaster Declaration” for Kerr County, Texas.
The declaration is “to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need,” the post said, in part.
“These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing. The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was on the ground yesterday with Governor Greg Abbott, who is working hard to help the people of his Great State,” Trump also wrote.
Fifty-nine people are dead as a result of the flooding and torrential rains in Kerr County, Texas, Sheriff Larry Leitha said during a Sunday-morning press conference. That tally includes 38 adults and 21 children, Leitha said.
Leitha also said 11 campers and one counselor remained missing from Camp Mystic, located on the banks of the Guadalupe River.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, Leitha said.
