Flooding in Texas leaves more than 1,300 homes damaged or destroyed
Flooding in Texas town of San Marcos [pop: ~ 55,000] has left more than 1,300 homes damaged or destroyed, prompting the Hays County Judge to issue a disaster declaration.
“Once they told me the extent of damage and potential damage, we declared it a disaster area,” Judge Dr. Bert Cobb was quoted as saying.
“The flow and height is double what [it] was when it was at its highest in 1929,” said San Marcos Emergency Management Commander, describing the Blanco River that flows through San Marcos, said a report.
[The river crested at more than 13m (43ft), about 10m above the flood stage, and 2.1m higher than the 1929 record.]
At least three people have been killed and several reported as missing in flash flooding and severe storms across the region, officials said late on Sunday.
A man was killed in the floods that inundated San Marcos, and two others lost their lives in Oklahoma.
Thousands of people have been evacuated across the region.
Earlier, State of Disaster declared was also declared in Caldwell County, Texas as San Marcos River threatened to inundate the area.
A State of Emergency was declared for 44 Oklahoma counties on Saturday.
Severe weather in Houston caused an apartment building to collapse, injuring at least two people and severely damaging 10 of the 41 units, said the Houston Fire Department.
More severe weather and flooding rains possible on Memorial Day
Widespread strong to severe storms will be possible again on Memorial Day from south Texas across the Plains into the Midwest. Isolated tornadoes, damaging winds and hail are all possible especially across much of Texas. In addition, moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of Texas, increasing the flash and river flooding concerns with an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain possible. [Source: NWS]
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