Governor Greg Abbott requested a presidential disaster declaration for dozens of Southwest Texas counties following heavy rains and flash flooding.
Governor Greg Abbott requested a presidential disaster declaration for dozens of Southwest Texas counties to provide aid and begin the recovery process following a week of intense rainfall. The heavy rains caused dangerous flash flooding across Central and West Texas, resulting in two deaths in the Kerrville and Uvalde areas. The National Weather Service reported that the Guadalupe River rose 32 feet in four hours, with some areas seeing more than 20 inches of rain since Monday. The flooding caused significant damage to roads and buildings, including the destruction of part of the FM 481 bridge. In response to the rising waters, local officials established emergency shelters and urged residents to seek higher ground. While the immediate threat of heavy rain will subside, the Lower Colorado River Authority expects Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan to reach 100% capacity for the first time since 2019. Officials plan to open the Mansfield Dam floodgates on Saturday to manage the remaining floodwaters.