LIVE BLOG: Flood recovery underway as searches continue for 5th day
TEXAS (KXAN) — Tuesday marks five days since flash floods in Central Texas that killed more than 100 people. As survivors begin recovery efforts, state and local emergency responders continue to search for missing people in several counties.
Here are the top headlines:
- Resources for Texans affected by flooding: Find shelter, supplies and assistance
- Today's forecast from the KXAN First Warning Weather team
- Why were flash floods across Central Texas so catastrophic? Read Meteorologist Freddy Vela's weather blog post.
- Our previous live blogs: July 4, July 5, July 6, July 7.
- "Total destruction": 10 still missing in Travis County, Big Sandy Creek area devastated
- "Hunt Strong": Community icon, the Hunt Store, destroyed in Kerr Co. flood
- Austin Fire Chief defends response after accusations of delaying help for Kerr County flooding; Austin Firefighters Association president calls no confidence vote
LATEST UPDATES
7:34 a.m.: Today's forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS) shows "isolated to scattered" showers in our region this afternoon and evening. Fortunately, the NWS said it expects conditions for the rest of this week to get drier starting Wednesday.
KXAN's forecast can be found in the list at the top of this blog.
6:50 a.m.: KXAN Reporter Mercedez Hernandez was at the Max Starcke Dam in Burnet County. The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) said it plans to close that dam's floodgates later today.
6:48 a.m.: Texas A&M Forest Service said it mobilized 225 personnel to assist with flood recovery.
6:43 a.m.: A temporary flight restriction remains in place over disaster areas. Those TFRs include private drones, which impede search and rescue efforts and put lives at risk. Monday afternoon, a drone collided with a rescue helicopter, forcing it to land and be grounded for repairs.
6:30 a.m.: KXAN will be at two press conferences this morning, with the first at 10 a.m., when Kerr County officials will give updates on their situation. Kerr County was hit the hardest by flash flooding on July 4. Gov. Abbott is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. press conference.
The Austin Firefighters Association has also called a press conference at 11 a.m. There, the AFA's president is expected to call for a vote of no confidence in Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker, who refuted the AFA president's claims.
6:28 a.m.: As we begin Tuesday, the confirmed death toll from flooding stands at 104 -- 25 people are still missing in Kerr, Travis, Burnet and Williamson counties.