Texas Braces for More Heavy Rain as Flooding Death Toll Climbs

Downpours will sweep central Texas for another day, complicating rescue efforts after extreme flooding in the region left at least 82 people dead and scores missing.

While the night passed quietly, the risk of heavy rain will rise Monday with as much as 4 inches (10 centimeters) falling across a wide area and some isolated spots getting as much as 10 inches, the National Weather Service said. Flood warnings and watches cover the heart of Texas, including its capital Austin and nearby San Antonio.

Bloomberg's Rob Carolan reports.

“Unfortunately there will be another round of storms today across that region,” said Allison Santorelli, a forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center. “Hopefully by tomorrow and then especially Wednesday, things should start to calm down.”

Floodwaters rose rapidly last week on area rivers, especially the Guadalupe, where children and families were camping on the July Fourth holiday. Camp Mystic, a girls’ camp on the river, confirmed Monday that 27 children and counselors have died.

Local, state and federal officials face have faced criticism in the aftermath of the tragedy, including questions about why the flood-prone county lacked warning sirens and whether forecasts accurately conveyed the risk of a catastrophic deluge. President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for the area.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the state legislature will take up the issue of warning systems at a special session.

Officials refused to say at a news conference Monday morning how many additional people were still believed missing, but warned that more heartache was sure to come. The confirmation from Camp Mystic that the campers were dead was a devastating blow to family and community members who had been holding out hope for their survival. More than 750 kids were at the property along the Guadalupe River on Friday morning when torrential rains unleashed a flash flood that swept away cabins, campsites, bridges and roads, hampering search and recovery efforts.

“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” according to a statement. “We are praying for them constantly.”

Rescuers continued to search an area more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) long in the Hill Country, a largely rural area with limited mobile-phone reception. It had been packed over the Fourth of July holiday weekend with vacationers, many of them families who flock to the region year after year to enjoy spring-fed rivers that provide respite from the summer heat in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The area sprawls across all or part of more than 20 counties in central Texas.

“We remain hopeful every foot, every mile, every bend of the river,” said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. “Our work continues.”

Statewide, at least 91 people have died, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday, citing figures from the Department of Homeland Security. Some of the deaths occurred in separate flooding Saturday in Travis, Burnet and Williamson counties, closer to the capital Austin.

Heavy rain continued in portions of the Hill Country on Monday, with the strongest downpours producing 2 to 3 inches of rain per hour, according to the National Weather Service. Authorities urged people to stay away from high water and heed any warnings.

“Unfortunately there will be another round of storms today across that region,” said Allison Santorelli, a forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center. “Hopefully by tomorrow and then especially Wednesday, things should start to calm down.”

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