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Rain deluge brings floods to Texas and Oklahoma | Rain deluge brings floods to Texas and Oklahoma |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A deluge of rainfall has burst rivers and brought flood warnings to several southern US states, with Texas and Oklahoma the worst hit so far. | A deluge of rainfall has burst rivers and brought flood warnings to several southern US states, with Texas and Oklahoma the worst hit so far. |
A fire-fighter lost his life when swept away by floodwater in Oklahoma and a man died in San Marcos, Texas. | |
Parts of Texas saw up to 10 inches (25cm) of rain over a 24-hour period, with more predicted across the region. | |
There were numerous rescues on Sunday after banks burst, and hundreds of homes were destroyed in central Texas. | |
Warnings and alerts stretch from Colorado through to Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and eastern Kansas. | Warnings and alerts stretch from Colorado through to Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and eastern Kansas. |
'Worst I've seen' | 'Worst I've seen' |
One of the worst hit rivers was the Blanco in Texas. | One of the worst hit rivers was the Blanco in Texas. |
At one point it crested at 43ft (13m) - some 30ft above the designated flood stage and 7ft higher than the 1929 record. | At one point it crested at 43ft (13m) - some 30ft above the designated flood stage and 7ft higher than the 1929 record. |
A flash flood emergency - reserved for the most life-threatening situations - is in effect in the river basin area. | A flash flood emergency - reserved for the most life-threatening situations - is in effect in the river basin area. |
Some 1,000 people nearby were evacuated and parts of the Interstate 35 highway were flooded and closed. | Some 1,000 people nearby were evacuated and parts of the Interstate 35 highway were flooded and closed. |
Rudy Olivo, a resident of San Marcos, told Associated Press: "This is the worst I've seen it because the water rose so fast." | |
San Marcos emergency management coordinator, Kenneth Bell, said the body of one man had been recovered but had no more details. Three more people are missing. | |
Kristi Wyatt, communications director for the town, said: "We have people on car tops and rooftops awaiting rescue. People in homes are going to higher levels." | |
She said hundreds of people were now in evacuation centres. | She said hundreds of people were now in evacuation centres. |
Several hundred houses were destroyed in the town of Wimberley. | |
The storm sewer system in parts of San Antonio saw water exploding from sewer covers. | The storm sewer system in parts of San Antonio saw water exploding from sewer covers. |
A mandatory evacuation was ordered at Lake Lewis, 50 miles (80km) north of Houston, which itself saw high winds bringing down trees and blowing out windows. | A mandatory evacuation was ordered at Lake Lewis, 50 miles (80km) north of Houston, which itself saw high winds bringing down trees and blowing out windows. |
Wichita Falls, also in Texas, was warned its river could burst its banks. | Wichita Falls, also in Texas, was warned its river could burst its banks. |
The fire-fighter who died in Oklahoma was swept away as he took part in a rescue effort in the town of Claremore, in the north-east of the state. He was named as Capt Jason Farley. | The fire-fighter who died in Oklahoma was swept away as he took part in a rescue effort in the town of Claremore, in the north-east of the state. He was named as Capt Jason Farley. |
Residents were rescued from roofs in the state's Cleveland and Comanche counties. | Residents were rescued from roofs in the state's Cleveland and Comanche counties. |
The National Weather Service says Oklahoma City already has a new monthly rainfall record for May - at 18.19 inches. | The National Weather Service says Oklahoma City already has a new monthly rainfall record for May - at 18.19 inches. |
In Colorado, El Paso and Pueblo counties and the city of Sterling were badly affected. | In Colorado, El Paso and Pueblo counties and the city of Sterling were badly affected. |