Life-threatening flash flooding has hit southern Texas after days of torrential rain, leaving at least two people dead and hundreds of people rescued across the same region struck by last July’s catastrophic floods.
More than 230 rescues have been made so far, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday afternoon, adding more than 85 boats, 20 aircraft and 200 high-profile vehicles have been deployed to assist the response. “Human life remains the focus right now,” he said.
About a year’s worth of rain has already fallen in southern Texas and while water levels have receded in some areas, officials urge residents to remain vigilant while heavy showers continue in areas already inundated by torrential rain.
A flood watch for hard-hit parts of south-central Texas is in effect until noon Friday, covering the US 90 corridor west of San Antonio, the Hill Country, the Rio Grande Valley and the southern Edwards Plateau. Another round of storms could bring an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain, with isolated spots getting up to 8, though forecast models suggest the heaviest rain may fall northwest of the areas hit hardest so far.
Uvalde and Johnson City are the cities most at risk for the next 24 hours, according to the governor. In an update late Thursday, the National Weather Service said storm activity was starting to increase across parts of Texas, including some areas that have already received more than two feet of rainfall in recent days, warning that “it will not take much additional rainfall to compound flooding concerns.”
