Texas has been hit by devastating floods for the 2nd year in a row, in pictures
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Dangerous flooding has hit parts of Texas following days of heavy rain, soaking homes and roads, prompting hundreds of rescues and leaving emergency workers working around the clock as floodwaters continue to threaten communities.
These floods killed two people and forced hundreds of people to rescue from areas that were still flooded last year, said Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday.
Rescuers in boats and helicopters rescued more than 200 people, including drivers trapped in homes, Abbott said.
The governor said the most affected areas are expecting more rain until Friday and are not out of danger, as some rivers are expected to reach historic levels.
After days of heavy rain, the US National Weather Service said a high tide on Thursday blocked the same river that was destroyed by floods last summer, when two children and counselors died at Camp Mystic.
Like last year, the flood came at midnight. But this time, some residents of the Texas Hill Country said they received more warnings.
Forecasters urgently warned, “Move to higher ground now!” as the rivers rise hour by hour. Some areas of the Guadalupe River rose more than nine feet.
The governor said more than 2,000 first responders had been dispatched and some people had begun evacuating before the worst of the flooding.
“What happened last year was a warning to people in or near rivers,” said Abbott. “No one can be complacent.”
About 74 centimeters of rain fell in Uvalde County, which was spared last year’s worst flooding, the weather service said Thursday. Some areas saw as much as 30 cm of rain.
The governor said one of the victims was driving on a flooded road that washed away near Uvalde, and the other died in Kerr County.
The ongoing crisis has brought back painful memories of last summer’s Hill Country floods, which killed more than 100 people over the July 4th holiday.
“It’s crazy two times in one year,” said Josiah Rodriguez, who woke up to the sound of heavy rain around 2 a.m. local time in Kerrville on Thursday. He walked through flooded streets to help evacuate relatives.
“Last year there was no warning about it,” he said. “It just happened overnight and it took everyone by surprise. This year, there are a lot of warnings, a lot of precautions.”
An estimated six million residents across Texas were under a flood watch this week, with many expected to remain in effect until Friday.
Texas Game Wardens rescued nearly 150 people this afternoon, according to a spokesperson for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The Hill Country is prone to flooding because the area’s signature limestone is covered by a thin layer of soil. During heavy rains, water can quickly shoot downhill before filling small rivers.
