Texas Flood Emergency Leaves 2 Dead and 70+ Rescued as Heavy Rain Hits 2 Counties
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 17
Texas Flood Emergency Leaves 2 Dead and 70+ Rescued as Heavy Rain Hits 2 Counties
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 17
Summary
Two people have died in Texas and more than 70 people were rescued after flash flood emergency orders were issued Thursday in two counties, Governor Greg Abbott said.
Abbott said the immediate priority was life-saving operations and noted the dead were not campers, a year after central Texas flooding devastated Camp Mystic.
Experts say the repeated flooding reflects a broader surge in extreme rainfall, with unusually heavy rain hitting states from Alaska to New York over the past month.
Warmer oceans and air are loading storms with more moisture, scientists said, while aging drainage systems and continued building in floodplains leave many US communities exposed.
Texas illustrates that vulnerability: Camp Mystic had some buildings removed from FEMA's 100-year flood map, and Harris County owners have sought to remove more than 6,500 homes from floodplain maps.