At least two people have died and more than 200 have been rescued as life-threatening flash floods sweep through south-central Texas, with up to 28 inches of rain falling in some areas. The deluge comes just a year after catastrophic flooding killed over 100 people in the same region.
Flash-flood emergencies were issued for parts of Kerr and Uvalde counties, where emergency crews performed water rescues, and areas around the Guadalupe and Pedernales rivers. The National Weather Service warned of a "particularly dangerous situation," urging residents to seek higher ground immediately.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the deaths: a man swept away in a recreational vehicle near Comfort, and a woman swept away while driving in Uvalde. Drones and helicopters have been deployed for rescues, and more than 200 people have been saved from homes and stranded vehicles.
The Guadalupe River at Comfort rose more than 30 feet in a few hours overnight. Shelter-in-place orders were issued for Kerrville and Uvalde, and a flood watch remained in effect until Thursday evening. Officials warned that all major highways and many city streets were closed due to flooding.
The severe weather follows last year's devastating Fourth of July weekend floods in the Texas Hill Country, which killed over 100 people, including 25 girls and two counselors at Camp Mystic on the Guadalupe River. That same area is now under another flash-flood emergency.
