This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/31/texas-floods-damage-missing-deaths

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Texas floods: damage tops $45m in Houston as state starts to rebuild Texas floods: damage tops $45m in Houston as state starts to rebuild
(37 minutes later)
Related: Wife of Oklahoma pastor shot by trooper amid flooding challenges police accountRelated: Wife of Oklahoma pastor shot by trooper amid flooding challenges police account
Most of Texas was set to get its first period of extended sunshine in weeks from Sunday, allowing surging rivers to recede as emergency management officials turn their attention to cleanup efforts in such places as Houston, where damage estimates top $45m.Most of Texas was set to get its first period of extended sunshine in weeks from Sunday, allowing surging rivers to recede as emergency management officials turn their attention to cleanup efforts in such places as Houston, where damage estimates top $45m.
At least 31 people have been killed in storms that began in Texas and Oklahoma over Memorial Day weekend. Twenty-seven of the deaths have been in Texas; 10 people were still missing over the weekend.At least 31 people have been killed in storms that began in Texas and Oklahoma over Memorial Day weekend. Twenty-seven of the deaths have been in Texas; 10 people were still missing over the weekend.
Parts of the state were finally beginning to rebuild on Sunday after weeks of rain and flooding that have made Texas a place of extremes: severe drought conditions earlier in the year that have given way to unprecedented rainfall in some areas.Parts of the state were finally beginning to rebuild on Sunday after weeks of rain and flooding that have made Texas a place of extremes: severe drought conditions earlier in the year that have given way to unprecedented rainfall in some areas.
The plentiful sun forecast for much of the state this week was expected to allow engorged rivers such as the Trinity in north and east Texas, the Brazos south west of Houston and the Nueces in south Texas to flush massive volumes of water into the Gulf of Mexico.The plentiful sun forecast for much of the state this week was expected to allow engorged rivers such as the Trinity in north and east Texas, the Brazos south west of Houston and the Nueces in south Texas to flush massive volumes of water into the Gulf of Mexico.
In the Houston area alone, preliminary damage estimates show the flooding from torrential rains will cost at least $45m, according to Francisco Sanchez of the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. There was more than $25m in damage to public utilities and infrastructure, Sanchez said, and the cost to remove storm debris from bayous, flooded neighborhoods and elsewhere was about $15m. Sanchez estimated another $4.5m in damage to buildings and equipment.In the Houston area alone, preliminary damage estimates show the flooding from torrential rains will cost at least $45m, according to Francisco Sanchez of the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. There was more than $25m in damage to public utilities and infrastructure, Sanchez said, and the cost to remove storm debris from bayous, flooded neighborhoods and elsewhere was about $15m. Sanchez estimated another $4.5m in damage to buildings and equipment.
About 1,500 homes in Harris County, including those in Houston, have some level of flood damage, and this number will increase as damage-assessment teams canvass the region, Sanchez said.About 1,500 homes in Harris County, including those in Houston, have some level of flood damage, and this number will increase as damage-assessment teams canvass the region, Sanchez said.
Hays County spokeswoman Laureen Chernow said officials there have recorded at least $32.7m in damage to public infrastructure following record flooding that overflowed the banks of the Blanco River. Many roads have been closed and two bridges destroyed, Chernow said.Hays County spokeswoman Laureen Chernow said officials there have recorded at least $32.7m in damage to public infrastructure following record flooding that overflowed the banks of the Blanco River. Many roads have been closed and two bridges destroyed, Chernow said.
“There are a couple of pillars standing in the riverbed,” she said. “It’s going to take years to rebuild this whole area.”“There are a couple of pillars standing in the riverbed,” she said. “It’s going to take years to rebuild this whole area.”
The flooding in Hays County alone has claimed eight lives and left six missing. Search crews were continuing to make their way down the Blanco River – at least 25 miles of the 55-mile stretch contained within the county have been searched this week. That process has slowed as workers make their way downriver and run into increasingly larger piles of debris, Chernow said. The flooding in Hays County alone has claimed eight lives and left six missing. Search crews were continuing to make their way down the Blanco River – at least 25 miles of the 55-mile stretch contained within the county have been searched this week. That process has slowed as workers make their way downriver and run into increasingly large piles of debris, Chernow said.
“It’s 15ft to 20ft tall in some places,” Chernow said. “As areas continue to dry out it will be easier to access and bring in heavy equipment.” “It’s 15ft to 20ft tall in some places,” she said. “As areas continue to dry out it will be easier to access and bring in heavy equipment.”
The federal warning system designed to anticipate such a catastrophic event did not accurately assess the danger, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The West Gulf River Forecast Center (WGRFC), part of the National Weather Service, is meant to anticipate and inform the response to Texas flooding disasters.The federal warning system designed to anticipate such a catastrophic event did not accurately assess the danger, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The West Gulf River Forecast Center (WGRFC), part of the National Weather Service, is meant to anticipate and inform the response to Texas flooding disasters.
Hydrologists use a complex formula of weather forecasting, stream flows and ground saturation measures to provide early warnings to locations in the path of high water, the Statesman reported. Emergency officials look to the agency to plan their flood operations.Hydrologists use a complex formula of weather forecasting, stream flows and ground saturation measures to provide early warnings to locations in the path of high water, the Statesman reported. Emergency officials look to the agency to plan their flood operations.
The Fort Worth-based WGRFC issued its first flood forecast at 7.15pm on 23 May, hours after the waters had swept through Blanco. Even then, the prediction was for the river to crest in Wimberley at only 12ft, about 8ft above its normal flow, and then to slowly drop after that.The Fort Worth-based WGRFC issued its first flood forecast at 7.15pm on 23 May, hours after the waters had swept through Blanco. Even then, the prediction was for the river to crest in Wimberley at only 12ft, about 8ft above its normal flow, and then to slowly drop after that.
The agency issued a second forecast just before 8pm, revising the expected surge in Wimberley to hit 16ft and drop overnight, an unremarkable event the forecast center characterized as “minor flood stage”.The agency issued a second forecast just before 8pm, revising the expected surge in Wimberley to hit 16ft and drop overnight, an unremarkable event the forecast center characterized as “minor flood stage”.
In fact, by the time the Blanco River water-level gauge at Wimberley was destroyed by the raging waters, at about 1am on 24 May, the river was above 40ft and rising.In fact, by the time the Blanco River water-level gauge at Wimberley was destroyed by the raging waters, at about 1am on 24 May, the river was above 40ft and rising.
“There was a lot of warning this was coming up. The missing factor was how big it was going to be,” Bill West, general manager of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, told the newspaper. “Information is the best tool we’ve got, and there is no doubt we could’ve benefited from more information.”“There was a lot of warning this was coming up. The missing factor was how big it was going to be,” Bill West, general manager of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, told the newspaper. “Information is the best tool we’ve got, and there is no doubt we could’ve benefited from more information.”
Veronica Beyer, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Transportation, said preliminary assessments showed about $27m in damage to the state transportation system.Veronica Beyer, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Transportation, said preliminary assessments showed about $27m in damage to the state transportation system.
“But clearly we expect that number to go up as the water goes down,” she said.“But clearly we expect that number to go up as the water goes down,” she said.
Beyer said about 155 state roads across Texas were still closed due to damage or because they remained under water. Since 4 May, when steady rains began to hammer the state, about two-thirds of Texas counties have sustained damage to roads and bridges, she said.Beyer said about 155 state roads across Texas were still closed due to damage or because they remained under water. Since 4 May, when steady rains began to hammer the state, about two-thirds of Texas counties have sustained damage to roads and bridges, she said.
“We want people to keep in mind that this has been a historic national disaster of epic proportions for us,” she said.“We want people to keep in mind that this has been a historic national disaster of epic proportions for us,” she said.