Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration amid a high risk of flash flooding, a year after the state was hit by floodwaters that killed 28 people at Camp Mystic.
The National Weather Service announced a high risk of flash flooding for parts of the U.S. 90 corridor, west of San Antonio on Tuesday, including the southern Edwards Plateau and Rio Grande.
Avery Tomasco, a meteorologist for CBS Austin, called the alert “unreal” in an X post Tuesday.
According to Abbott’s disaster declaration, nearly 60 Texas counties will be hit by severe storms that started Monday, including Kerr County, where a flood killed more than 100 people, including 25 girls at a Christian summer camp, just over a year ago. Two teenage Camp Mystic counselors and the camp’s director were also killed in the flood.
There are flash flood warnings for Medina and Uvalde counties until 12 a.m., local time. Between four and 10 inches of rain have fallen in Medina County, and between five and 12 inches in Uvalde County as of around 4 p.m.
The Texas Department of Public Safety for South Texas shared a video on X of its tactical Marine units rescuing stranded Uvalde County drivers in floodwaters.
The video showed a clip of an emergency vehicle with a rescue boat hitched to the back as it drove on a semi-flooded road. Other clips in the video showed a rescue boat moving down a completely submerged street and a group of three people trudging through water.
“Don’t walk or drive through flooded roads. Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” the agency warned in its post.
A storm chaser who goes by Chris Weather Chasing online shared drone footage of the commercial area Tuesday, which showed murky water flooding a main road and its surrounding parking lots.
“Drone footage of severe flash flooding in Uvalde, TX. E Main Street is underwater and impassable in front of Hobby Lobby,” the storm chaser wrote on X alongside the video.
The Texas Game Wardens, a Parks and Wildlife Department team that conducts search and rescue operations during natural disasters, shared a video on Facebook Tuesday of roaring floodwaters that carried a car away.
The Game Wardens noted that the people inside the car were rescued shortly before it was swept up.
Abbott said his disaster declaration will ensure the rapid deployment of state resources.
“Texas is positioned to respond quickly and effectively. I urge all Texans in affected areas to monitor local weather forecasts, avoid driving through flooded roadways, and have emergency supplies ready,” the governor said.
Abbott noted that heavy rainfall across Southwest, Central and Southeast Texas is expected to continue through the end of the week.
“The protection of Texans is my top priority,” the governor said.
