At least six people have died as of Friday afternoon due to flooding in Texas Hill Country, and the state has mobilized resources to help people in the area deal with severe weather over the Independence Day holiday weekend.
According to NBC DFW, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly confirmed the deaths but did not provide information about their identities. He also said there are an “unknown number of children” missing from summer camps along the Guadalupe River.
Near Hunt, Texas, the river rose 22 feet.
“Texas is providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt and the entire Texas Hill Country dealing with these devastating floods,” said Gov. Greg Abbott in a Friday press release. “The State of Texas today has mobilized additional resources in addition to the resources sent in preparation for the storms. I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas.”
That release also noted that the state “activated emergency response resources in Central Texas in preparation for continued heavy rainfall and flash flooding threats.” Several agencies are also offering support such as boat, helicopters and emergency crews, including the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, the Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas National Guard, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas A&M Forest Service, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Per the National Weather Service, heavy rainfall and flash flooding will continue to threaten West Texas, Central Texas, and the Hill Country over the next couple of days. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, most are expected to decrease in the coverage of showers Friday evening, with low rain chances lingering west of I-35 overnight.
“Gusty winds & lightning are possible in the vicinity of any storms,” said the NWS.
“Texas responders remain ready to support local officials in Texas communities as flooding threatens the state over the next couple of days” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “As we head into a busy holiday weekend involving travel plans for many folks, Texans are urged to keep personal preparedness as their number one priority.”