Upperhill News

The United States President Donald Trump has signed a major disaster declaration on Sunday for Kerr County, thereby activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Texas.

Trump, who described the disaster as a horrible thing, promised to visit the county on Friday

The destructive, fast-moving waters of the river rose eight metres within 45 minutes before daybreak on Friday, washing away homes and vehicles while tens of lives have been reportedly dead and missing.

The State Governor, Greg Abott, warned on Sunday that additional rounds of heavy rains lasting into Tuesday could produce more life-threatening flooding, especially in places already saturated.

Abott vowed that authorities would work round the clock to search new areas new areas as the water receded, declaring Sunday a day of prayer for the state.

“I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday — for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,” he said.

Officials said more than 850 people were rescued in the first 36 hours using helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads.

In Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and other youth camps in the Texas Hill Country, searchers have found the bodies of 68 people, including 28 children, Sheriff Larry Leitha said on Sunday afternoon.

He pledged to keep searching until everybody was found from Friday’s flash floods. Ten other deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, officials disclosed.