<p>-
- Texas flooding updates: Statewide death toll now at least 70, say officials</p>
<p>EMILY SHAPIRO, JACK MOORE, NADINE EL-BAWAB and IVAN PEREIRAJuly 7, 2025 at 1:18 AM</p>
<p>At least 67 people are dead after heavy rain lashed Texas, leading to "catastrophic" flooding.</p>
<p>Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said emergency responders remained in a search and rescue posture, hours after the flooding along the Guadalupe River inundated nearby areas.</p>
<p>"So many people have been swept up into an extraordinary catastrophe," Abbott said, asking for prayers for residents.</p>
<p>At least 21 children are among the dead, including campers from a summer camp in the area, Camp Mystic, where 11 children and an adult counselor remain unaccounted for, according to Kerr County officials at a Sunday press conference.</p>
<p>Latest Developments</p>
<p>Jul 6, 1:26 PMStatewide death toll now stands at 70, say officials</p>
<p>The death toll now stands at 70 in the wake of torrential rains and the resulting flooding in Texas.By far the greatest number of fatalities occurred in Kerr County, where 59 people are believed to be dead, according to officials, including 21 children.In Travis County, four people are believed dead, with three dead in Burnet County, two in Kendall County, and one death each reported in Tom Green and Williamson counties, county officials have said.Search and rescue operations are ongoing.</p>
<p>Jul 6, 1:05 PMFEMA activated in Texas, according to DHS</p>
<p>The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been activated in Texas, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).The activation comes in the wake of President Trump on Sunday signing a disaster declaration for hard-hit Kerr County, where at least 59 people have died as a result of the torrential rains and resulting flooding.The U.S. Coast Guard is also helping with search-and-rescue operations in the area, according to DHS, using helicopters and other aircraft equipped with thermal cameras to search for survivors.DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is "on the ground with Governor Abbott and local leaders on Saturday and will continue to work to make sure Texas has the resources needed to respond and recover," the DHS statement said.</p>
<p>Jul 6, 11:40 AMPresident Trump signs "Major Disaster Declaration" for Kerr County, Texas</p>
<p>President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Sunday morning that he has signed a "Major Disaster Declaration" for Kerr County, Texas.The declaration is "to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need," the post said, in part."These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing. The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was on the ground yesterday with Governor Greg Abbott, who is working hard to help the people of his Great State," Trump also wrote.</p>
<p>Jul 6, 11:21 AM59 dead in Kerr County, including 21 children, sheriff says</p>
<p>Fifty-nine people are dead as a result of the flooding and torrential rains in Kerr County, Texas, Sheriff Larry Leitha said during a Sunday-morning press conference. That tally includes 38 adults and 21 children, Leitha said.Leitha also said 11 campers and one counselor remained missing from Camp Mystic, located on the banks of the Guadalupe River.Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, Leitha said.</p>
<p>Jul 5, 7:12 PM43 dead in Kerr County</p>
<p>Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha provided an update on the flood damage in his area during a news conference and said the death toll rose to 43 people as of 7 p.m. ET."Among these who are deceased, we have 28 adults and 15 children," he said.Leitha said five children and 12 adults are pending identification."I assure you we're going to do everything along with our partners, and we'll be on this till we find the last body," he said.</p>
<p>Jul 5, 4:47 PM32 dead, including 14 children, in catastrophic flooding</p>
<p>At least 32 people are dead, including 14 children, Texas officials said Saturday. Officials are still searching for 27 people who are missing."My instruction to every state official involved is to assume everybody who is missing is alive, and there's a need for speed. Not just every hour, every minute counts, which is why there's people in the air, people in the water, people at the ground right now because they're looking to save every last life and we will not give up that effort," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said at a press conference.Search and rescue teams are continuing to search for live victims, officials said.</p>
<p>Jul 5, 4:33 PMMore than 850 people rescued in last 36 hours</p>
<p>Texas Gov. Greg Abbott commended rescue workers who have saved over 850 people in the last 36 hours, including people who were "clinging to trees to save their lives," he said."What has happened over the past 36 hours is really amazing when you look at what the local officials have done, working and collaborating with multiple state agencies as well as our federal partners," Abbott said.</p>
<p>Rodolfo Gonzalez/AP - PHOTO: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Gov. Greg Abbott, speak during a news conference in Ingram, Texas, on July 5, 2025, as Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief, Nim Kidd, left, looks on.</p>
<p>Jul 5, 4:27 PMAbbott signs expanded disaster declaration adding more counties impacted by flooding</p>
<p>Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an expanded emergency declaration that added Texas counties impacted by the disastrous flooding. The new declaration now includes Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis and Williamson counties, Abbott said at a press conference Saturday afternoon."We will be relentless and going after and ensuring that we locate every single person who's been a victim of this flooding event. We're not going to stop today or tomorrow. We will stop when the job is completed," Abbott said.Abbott also signed a request for a federal emergency declaration."Know that President Trump is absolutely heartbroken by what has happened here in Texas, and the loss of life is absolutely devastating to him and Melania," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said at the press conference.</p>
<p>Jul 5, 3:51 PMDangerous flash flood threat persists in central Texas</p>
<p>Areas of heavy rain and the threat of dangerous flash flooding continues to impact parts of central Texas Saturday afternoon as the area recovers from Friday morning's deadly flash flooding along the Guadalupe River.For the second night in a row, another significant and dangerous flash flood event unfolded in the region. This time, about 100 miles northeast from yesterday's catastrophic event.A Flash Flood Emergency continues for much of Burnet County, Texas, as well as western parts of Williamson and Travis Counties until 4 p.m. CT.</p>
<p>Rodolfo Gonzalez/AP - PHOTO: Crews work to clear debris from the Cade Loop bridge along the Guadalupe River on July 5, 2025, in Ingram, Texas.</p>
<p>Up to a foot of rain has fallen in this area triggering major flash flooding. There have been reports of numerous road closures in the area, according to the National Weather Service.The flash flood threat will finally diminish Saturday night with all Flood Watches expiring between 7 to 10 p.m. CT, depending on location.</p>
<p>Jul 5, 3:31 PM'We didn't know this flood was coming,' official says</p>
<p>Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly was pressed by a reporter as to why evacuations didn't take place Thursday, but the judge said, "We didn't know this flood was coming." Officials said the county does not have a warning system on the river."We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States, and we deal with floods on a regular basis. When it rains, we get water. We had no reason to believe that this was going to be anything like what's happened here, none whatsoever," he said.</p>
<p>Julio Cortez/AP - PHOTO: A Texas State Police armored vehicle rolls by a damaged gas pump at a gas station along the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area, July 5, 2025, in Hunt, Texas.</p>
<p>Rain continued to hit the region Saturday, prompting flash flood emergency warnings for much of Burnet County and western parts of Williamson County and Travis County.</p>
<p>Click here to read the rest of the blog.</p>
Source: AOL Politics
Source: AsherMag
Full Article on Source: Astro Blog
#LALifestyle #USCelebrities