Texas, FEMA
Digest more
Central Texas faces severe thunderstorms, with meteorologists predicting rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour. There is a threat to serious flash flooding.
Kerr County failed to secure a warning system, even as local officials remained aware of the risks and as billions of dollars were available for similar projects.
Some regions in the mid-Atlantic are also facing risks of flooding. On Sunday, Tropical Storm Chantal flooded parts of North Carolina, where more than 10 inches of rain fell near the Chapel Hill area. The Haw River, near Bynum, North Carolina, crested to nearly 22 feet, the highest crest on record there, as a result of those heavy rains.
As a climate scientist who calls Texas home, I can tell you that the Hill Country of Texas is no stranger to flooding. Meteorologists often refer to it as “Flash Flood Alley” because of its steep terrain, shallow soils, and its history of sudden and intense rainfall.
New data reveals FEMA missed major flood risks at Camp Mystic, where over two dozen died in the Texas flood. And, U.S. measles cases hit the highest level in over three decades.
For nearly a century, Texas’s Camp Mystic has been a beloved summertime hub of joy for generations of girls across the state. Located along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, the all-girls Christian camp is famous for hosting presidents’ daughters and for its years-long waitlist.