At least two people have died and more than 230 have been rescued as torrential rains and flash floods swept across central Texas this week. One victim, whose name has not been released, was swept away near Uvalde, about 138 km southwest of San Antonio. The other, John Mark Steward of Kerrville, is believed to have died after his mobile home was carried off by floodwaters from Goat Creek.

The heavy rainfall began Tuesday and continues to affect western parts of the state, including Big Bend National Park. Texas has deployed 2,350 emergency responders with helicopters and boats. Gabriel Pablo, a California man, was rescued from an 18-wheeler truck that was overtaken by floodwaters.

Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 59 counties, calling for round-the-clock emergency operations. “We are dealing with a flood that is likely going to break records,” Abbott said. More than 800 vehicles, 75 boats, and 20 aircraft have been deployed.

The National Weather Service reported 10 to 20 inches (25-50 cm) of rain in parts of Texas, with some areas receiving up to two feet (60 cm) — more than their annual average. Nearly 6 million people were under flood watches across south and central Texas.

The same region saw devastating floods just over a year ago, killing at least 139 people. In Kerr County, last year’s floods killed 28 people at Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp. The camp did not open this summer and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The state has since ramped up emergency preparedness. Abbott signed a law requiring warning sirens in flood-prone areas, and Kerr County activated its system last month. On the federal level, Senators John Cornyn and Jon Ossoff introduced the Mystic Alerts Act to allow emergency alerts via satellite networks when cell service fails.

Source: www.aljazeera.com