Central Texas Flooding and Wildfires: Rescues, Evacuations, and Damage

Central Texas Flood Crisis

• ⚠️ Dangerous weather impacted millions across the country over the weekend, with central Texas experiencing severe flooding.
• 🌊 In Kerr County, the Guadalupe River was overwhelmed with debris, and the death toll from July 4th flooding reached at least 132.
• 🚨 Residents in Kerrville were warned to move to higher ground as the Lampasas River rose over 30 feet in 4 hours.
• 🏘️ A mandatory evacuation order was issued for areas south of the San Saba River, which was rising faster than on July 4th.

East Coast and Florida Weather Events

• ⚡ In New York, a flash flood warning was issued for two counties due to over four inches of rain.
• 🏖️ Florida saw a lightning strike in St. Augustine, injuring an elderly man with life-threatening injuries.

Western Wildfires and Destruction

• 🔥 In the Grand Canyon, lightning sparked the Dragon Bravo fire, destroying between 50 and 80 structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.
• 🏜️ Farther north, the White Saga fire consumed over 40,000 acres and was 0% contained, threatening nearby businesses like the Jacob Lake Inn.
• 🏡 The owner of Jacob Lake Inn described the difficult decision of evacuating guests and prioritizing valuables during the rapidly spreading fire.