Multiple deaths reported in Texas, rescue efforts underway as flash flooding threatens communities

Multiple deaths have been published in Texas after heavy rain caused flash flooding of a river while search teams used boats to conduct rescues Friday as fast-moving water threatened riverfront communities near wildlife habitats and campgrounds As much as inches centimeters of heavy rain fell in just a scant hours overnight in central Kerr County causing flash flooding of the Guadalupe River The Kerr County sheriff s office substantiated fatalities but did not provide additional details A flood watch issued Thursday afternoon estimated isolated amounts up to seven inches That shifted to a flood warning for at least people overnight Texas Gov Greg Abbott noted the state was providing tools to Hill Country communities dealing with the flooding including Kerrville Ingram and Hunt I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local representatives and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas Abbott disclosed in a report The Guadalupe s river gauge at the unincorporated society of Hunt where the river forks recorded a foot rise meters in just about two hours according to Bob Fogarty meteorologist with the National Weather Operation s Austin San Antonio office Fogarty declared the gauge failed after recording a level of and a half feet meters We think the river s higher than that Fogarty commented The gauge is altogether underwater The riverfront communities include several camps wildlife habitats and campgrounds Texas Competition Wardens part of the state parks and wildlife agency commented on Facebook that search and rescue teams are conducting rescues throughout the region and sending more boats to help This is the kind of thing that will catch you unaware Fogarty declared The water s moving so fast you re not going to recognize how bad it is until it s on top of you Meanwhile strong thunderstorms were being blamed for at least three deaths in central New Jersey including two men in Plainfield who died after a tree fell onto a conveyance they were traveling in during the height of a storm there according to a city Facebook post The men were ages and administrators mentioned They were not this instant publicly identified Our hearts are heavy in current times Mayor Adrian O Mapp stated in a comment This tragedy is a sobering reminder of the power of nature and the fragility of life The city canceled its planned July Fourth parade concert and fireworks show Mapp declared the devastating storms had left deep scars and widespread damage in the area of more than people and it was a time to regroup and focus all of our power on recovery Continuing power outages and downed trees were disclosed Friday throughout southern New England where several communities received large amounts of hail There were reports of cars skidding off the road in northeastern Connecticut