At least three people have died after heavy rain brought record-breaking flooding to South Texas, according to officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deaths occurred in Hidalgo County, where officials issued a disaster declaration as a result of the flooding. The county, which includes the city of McAllen, saw some of the heaviest rain accumulations over the last 24 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was no further information about the three deaths immediately available, but officials said they would release more details later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A large part of South Texas is still reeling from the life-threatening flooding that began overnight and continued into Friday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thunderstorms began Wednesday, with another round of heavy rainfall on Thursday afternoon and evening. The rain continued through Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National Weather Service issued flash flooding emergency warnings multiple times on Thursday and overnight for South McAllen and Harlingen — both located in the Rio Grande Valley in the southernmost parts of Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This is a particularly dangerous situation,” the NWS said in a statement<\/a> issued Thursday night, urging people to avoid travel unless fleeing a region subject to flooding or are under an evacuation order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The region received between 6 inches and a foot of rain or more in some areas, according to the NWS. McAllen got more than 6 inches of rain, while more than 14 inches was recorded at the Valley International Airport in Harlingen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NWS received reports for several vehicles stranded on Interstate 2 in waist-deep water, according to the agency. Dozens of water rescues took place as a result of the flash flooding.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Video shows first responders in inflatable boats rescuing people stranded on roadways. The South Texas Health System<\/a> hospital in McAllen experienced minor flooding on its first floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several school districts in the region canceled classes<\/a> on Friday, as did the South Texas College<\/a> in McAllen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flooding continued into Friday morning, with rivers nearly overflowing. A flood watch is in effect for parts of South Texas and southern Louisiana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Water levels at the Arroyo Colorado River at Harlingen are nearing a record-breaking 30 feet. There is no precedent for the kind of damage a 30-foot water level in the Arroyo Colorado River could do, according to the NWS. The previous record water levels measured at the Arroyo Colorado River was 24 feet.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n