Flash floods in Texas killed at least 82 people over the Fourth of July holiday weekend and left an unknown number of others still missing, including girls attending a summer camp. The devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio, has drawn a massive search effort as officials face questions over their preparedness and the speed of their initial actions.
What to know:
- Death toll expected to rise: Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday that 41 people were unaccounted for across the state and more could be missing. Camp Mystic says it is “grieving the loss” of 27 campers and counselors as the search continues.
- More flooding is possible: Friday’s intense downpour was the equivalent of a months’ worth of rain for the area. With more rain on the way Monday, the risk of more flooding was still high in saturated parts of central Texas.
- Officials face scrutiny over flash flood warning: Local officials have insisted that no one saw the flood potential coming, though the National Weather Service sent out a series of flash flood warnings in the early hours Friday before issuing flash flood emergencies — a rare alert notifying of imminent danger.