Evacuation Order for Search Crews
Flood Enters Ninth Day, Over 160 Still Missing
Last week, heavy rains and flooding struck central Texas, resulting in 129 deaths. Now, another round of heavy rain has prompted the issuance of a flood advisory. As a result, search operations for missing persons, which had continued for eight days, have been suspended, and evacuation orders have been issued for search crews and volunteers working in the area.
The US National Weather Service (NWS) announced on the 13th (local time) that a flood advisory would be in effect until 7 p.m. that day for the "Hill Country," which refers to the inland region of central Texas.
From the morning of that day, areas affected by the flooding on the Guadalupe River, which began on the 4th, as well as the inland northwest of major cities Austin and San Antonio, were under the influence of flooding.
The NWS warned that rainfall in this region could average between 51 and 102 millimeters, with some areas potentially reaching up to 305 millimeters. In some places, rainfall of 152 to 254 millimeters has already been reported in the past 24 hours.
Meteorologists advised that, although this round of heavy rain may be less intense than last week's disastrous downpour, the ground in already severely affected areas is likely to be extremely unstable. They urged people to avoid entering these areas.
Meteorologist Orlando Bermudez told the New York Times (NYT), "The rain falling today will quickly infiltrate the soil, causing everything to come loose."
A flood warning was issued for the Guadalupe River area until the following morning, and meteorologists warned residents not to drive on flooded roads or bridges. The water level of the Guadalupe River was forecast to rise to 4.6 meters by the afternoon, about 1.5 meters above flood stage.
Local authorities and police restricted traffic on some roads in the city of Kerrville and instructed residents to evacuate to higher ground.
On the 4th, heavy rain fell in the Hill Country, the mountainous region of central Texas, causing the Guadalupe River, which runs through Kerr County toward San Antonio, to overflow and resulting in large-scale flood damage in nearby areas.
According to Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the water level of the Guadalupe River rose by as much as 26 feet (about 7.9 meters) in just 45 minutes that morning.
Afterward, authorities used helicopters, rescue boats, and drones to rescue stranded individuals and recover the bodies of victims.
At the time of the flooding, 129 people, including 36 children participating in a camp who were staying at a lodge near the upper reaches of the river, have been confirmed dead so far. The whereabouts of more than 160 missing persons have yet to be determined.
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