SAN ANGELO, Texas – South Central Texas was hit by historic rain on Friday morning, triggering a “deadly flood wave,” and leading to four Flash Flood Emergencies amid widespread high-water and home rescues throughout the affected areas.
Officials in Kerr County say they have found multiple bodies so far, though the exact number has not been given. Social media feeds from the area are full of pleas for help to locate missing people.
“This is a catastrophic flooding event in Kerr County,” the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said. “We can confirm fatalities but will not release further information until next of kin are notified.”
There are also reports of some children unaccounted for at a camp.
“We can’t say for sure that they’re all accounted for,” Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said during a late Friday morning press conference. “We know that there are some missing. We know where some of them are: Stranded.”
The FOX Forecast Center said the first Flash Flood Emergency was issued near San Angelo after 12-15 inches of rain was reported and flooding was ongoing.
“Automated rain gauges indicate a large and deadly flood wave is moving down the Guadalupe River,” the National Weather Service (NWS) warned in issuing their Flash Flood Emergency. “Flash flooding is already occurring. This is a Flash Flood Emergency for the Guadalupe River from Center Point to Sisterdale. This is a particularly dangerous situation. Seek higher ground now!”
Another was issued near Kerrville after the Guadalupe River rose over 20 feet in just an hour at Kerrville and 26.7 feet in just 45 minutes at Comfort, Texas.
“We didn’t know this flood was coming,” Kelly said. “Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming.”
Over 7 inches of rain in six hours was reported in Kerr County. In Brady, water reached homes and rescues took place. The NWS said the river has reached the second-highest height on record, higher than the famous 1987 flood.
“All Kerrville residents who live near the Guadalupe River are urged to evacuate now,” Kerrville police said. “This is a life-threatening event. Do not wait.”
A nearby Walmart has been established as a shelter.
The Kerr County sheriff’s office said they are working with a wide variety of local and state agencies to respond to calls and rescues.
“The entire county is an extremely active scene,” deputies said. “Residents are encouraged to shelter in place and not attempt travel. Those near creeks, streams, and the Guadalupe River should immediately move to higher ground.”
(FOX Weather)
San Angelo officials said there’s a 2-mile-wide area of town that has been “greatly affected” by catastrophic flooding. Emergency crews are still combing the area looking for people in distress.
The city’s dispatch center received over 100 calls for help and water rescues just between 5-6 a.m. Friday morning.
Rounds of rain and storms will move through the state of Texas on Friday and Saturday, continuing the flash flood concerns, especially across West Texas.
Flood Watches have been posted across West Texas and parts of New Mexico through Friday where some locations could see 3-5 additional inches of rain.
A look at the flood alerts in Texas through Friday morning.
(FOX Weather)
The culprit? A stationary front that is continued to be draped across the region, sparking the chance of storms, the FOX Forecast Center said. There is also an upper-level disturbance moving through the Four Corners that will also aide with lift.
Texas and Oklahoma won’t be the only states to see rain, as parts of the Southern Rockies of Colorado could see some storms.
