Texas Kerr County Hit by Devastating Floods
On Thursday, July 3rd, South-Central Texas received news of a potential flood from the National Weather Service (NWS). National Weather Service issued another warning to the area.
Just after 4 AM, the NWS sent one message, warning of a “particularly dangerous situation” and informing anyone in the area to seek high ground. Within an hour and a half, the Guadalupe River, which spanned about 229 miles across, had risen 31 feet, an alarming change from the 3 feet it normally resided at.
At least 81 people have been killed by the floods, including 28 children. About 173 people remain missing, despite search teams combing through Texas. Several summer camps were evacuated, and property and buildings were damaged. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas stated on Sunday that rescue efforts would continue until every missing person has been found.
The majority of the dead, 68, were in Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River begins. Kerr County is a part of the Texas Hill Country, northwest of the city of San Antonio.
Several girls at Camp Mystic, a large summer camp located on the banks of the Guadalupe River with around 750 attendees, had been killed by the floods. Some of the girls had been as young as 8 years old. Dick Eastland, the director of the summer camp, was also swept away and killed while he was attempting to rescue campers.
Rescuers on boats, trucks, horses, and helicopters have saved about 850 people. A Coast Guard swimmer has been credited with rescuing 165 people at Camp Mystic. Despite the efforts, at least 10 girls who attended the camp still remain unaccounted for after the floods.
After the disaster, the National Weather Service was largely criticized and considered to have not given the flood victims enough warning. Some experts say that the fact that the agency was understaffed may have contributed to the catastrophe. Additionally, Kerr County officials had considered installing a flood warning system on the Guadalupe River, as it was at high risk for flash flooding. The project, however, was deemed too expensive, and the idea was scrapped. So when the river flooded, there were no blaring sirens or beeping monitors. Unreliable text alerts came in late for some and went unseen by others.
Good work Nina!
