Flash floods continue to devastate Central Texas, with the death toll rising to 132 as new storms swept through the already battered region.
Over the weekend, heavy rain triggered another wave of flooding in Kerr County, pausing recovery efforts from the catastrophic July 4 flash floods when the Guadalupe River overflowed its banks.
Governor Greg Abbott (R) confirmed ongoing rescue operations in San Saba, Lampasas, and Schleicher counties, where more than nine inches of rain fell in some areas. “Dozens” of people were rescued in Lampasas alone after the Lampasas River surged 23 feet in under four hours, the governor wrote on X.
The National Weather Service warned of “life-threatening” flash flooding this week in the Texas Hill Country, specifically Kerr, Bandera, Real, and Uvalde counties, as thunderstorms and torrential rains continued.
Evacuations are underway across the region, with rising water levels are being closely monitored in communities like Kerrville.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (R) defended the federal response to the crisis, saying the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) acted swiftly and has been commended by state officials. FEMA has faced criticism and accusations of negligence after documents showed that the agency struggled with answering thousands of calls from flood survivors.
With more rain forecast, the threat to Central Texas remains dire, complicating recovery efforts and deepening a disaster that has already taken a heavy toll on lives and infrastructure.
Despite the struggle, Governor Abbott has tried to raise morale in the state, commending Texans for their resilience in the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck the Lone Star state earlier this month.
“We remain proud Americans. Thanks to people across the country for your outpouring of support,” he said.
