Texas braces for new flood threat in Panhandle area

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday evening activated the state emergency response resources as forecasters anticipated heavy rainfall in the Panhandle this week. Thunderstorms were expected to trigger flash floods across New Mexico and into the Rockies, in parts of the Mississippi Valley, and into the Northeast, according to the National Weather Service. Following Abbott’s order, emergency crews were prepared to conduct swiftwater rescues, support local first responders, and assist utility providers. The warning comes less than one month after flash floods in central Texas claimed the lives of more than 130 people, including over two dozen at a Christian girls’ camp.

Also on Wednesday, Abbott added another 10 central and western counties to President Donald Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration responding to catastrophic floods in the state in early July. Four counties were approved for Federal Emergency Management Agency Individual Assistance programs and six were eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.

How are authorities learning from the July 4 floods? Texas state officials on Thursday conducted a hearing into catastrophic floods in Central Texas. The flooding from July 4-5 killed at least 135 people, most of them in Kerr County, where the state officials visited Thursday.

What is the weather like in other parts of the country? A heat wave continued through the Southeast and East coast Thursday, with sustained temperatures over 90 degrees. The weather service forecasted cooler temperatures later in the week and over the weekend. Meanwhile, cities from New York City to Washington, D.C., were bracing for dangerous flooding. New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday issued a travel advisory for Thursday through Friday and advised drivers to avoid roads that may flood.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report about Trump expanding his emergency declaration after he visited areas hit hard by flooding earlier this month.