KERR COUNTY, Texas \u2013 At least two people died in South Central Texas as floodwaters once again inundated parts of the area Thursday \u2014 prompting water rescues, evacuations and widespread road closures as emergency crews respond to another dangerous flooding event along the Guadalupe River.<\/p>\n
A 74-year-old man was found dead at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Uvalde, after floods swept away his vehicle, the city\u2019s police department said in a news release. Authorities received reports of the vehicle bobbing in the floodwaters at the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 North and County Road 400.<\/p>\n
A Texas Department of Public Safety boat team approached the vehicle in the water and confirmed the man\u2019s death, according to the news release.<\/p>\n
The Kerr County Sheriff\u2019s Office and DPS confirmed that another man also died in Thursday\u2019s floods. His body was recovered in the vicinity of Center Point, according to a news release. <\/p>\n
During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott said the man was swept away in an RV.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis person\u2019s identification will not be shared until next-of-kin has been notified,\u201d the release said. \u201cOur thoughts are with the family and all those affected by this loss.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a Thursday morning Facebook post, Jennie Steward said her husband, John Mark, disappeared during the flooding.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur home floated away while my husband was in it this morning,\u201d Steward said in the morning post.<\/p>\n
In a follow-up post Thursday afternoon, Steward confirmed her husband\u2019s death. <\/p>\n
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Jennie Steward said her husband, John Mark, went missing during the flooding. In another post Thursday afternoon, Steward confirmed her husband\u2019s death. (Facebook)<\/p>\n
\u201cMy heart is broken. I am devastated,\u201d Steward said. \u201cMy husband, Mark, was found and went to be with Jesus. Thank you for all the search and rescue people.\u201d<\/p>\n
KSAT has not independently verified John Mark Steward\u2019s death with authorities.<\/p>\n
When asked about the death Thursday afternoon, Kerrville Police Chief Jerel Haley said the Kerr County Sheriff\u2019s Office was in charge of that investigation. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur community grieves, and we grieve hard. We\u2019re still reeling from what happened a year ago. Those are not easily forgotten memories,\u201d Haley said. \u201cTo have this happen again so suddenly is literally quite devastating for a lot of us as first responders, as employees of the City of Kerrville and as members of this community.\u201d <\/p>\n
Uvalde most at risk Thursday night, Abbott says<\/p>\n
In Thursday\u2019s news conference, Abbott said Uvalde is the area most at risk overnight into Friday.<\/p>\n
The Nueces River near Uvalde is expected to set a new record crest overnight, Abbott said. The last record was 24.88 feet in 1996.<\/p>\n
He said officials expect \u201ctwo times the flow of Niagara Falls.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abbott also said heavy rain is also expected in the Permian Basin, Concho Valley, Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re facing record-shattering rainfall that leads to very dangerous flooding,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cWe want to do everything we possibly can to protect all lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fifty-nine counties remain under Flood Watch as of Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Disaster declarations in Kerrville, Kerr County<\/p>\n
The Guadalupe River reached moderate flood levels in Hunt and major flood levels in Kerrville and Center Point, officials said. The river gauge at Center Point rose to 37 feet just before 6 a.m. Thursday.<\/p>\n
Hours later, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. and Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly issued disaster declarations for their respective jurisdictions. <\/p>\n
The flooding has stirred painful memories for residents still recovering from last year\u2019s deadly July 4 flooding. <\/p>\n
\u201cHaving to be in front of you again, so soon after last year\u2019s flood, is hard,\u201d Herring said during a Thursday afternoon news conference. <\/p>\n
Watch the full Thursday news conference below. <\/p>\n
According to Haley, approximately 20 inches of rain have fallen in Kerrville over the last two days, including a jaw-dropping eight inches in a two-hour span. <\/p>\n
The rain caused the Guadalupe River, Dietert Creek, Town Creek and Quinlan Creek to overflow their \u201cbanks\u201d and flooded \u201csignificant portions\u201d of the city, Haley said. <\/p>\n
Kerrville officials said overnight rescue crews were later relieved by fresh crews, who conducted welfare checks and additional evacuations. A large number of evacuations happened in areas where drivers traveled into \u201chigh-water areas that they should have never gone into,\u201d the police chief said.<\/p>\n
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, Haley said flooding has receded in most areas, but the Guadalupe River \u201cremains at flood stage.\u201d <\/p>\n
Officials expressed their gratitude for the Upper Guadalupe River Authority<\/a>\u2018s new flash flood warning sirens along the Guadalupe River, which were installed earlier this year<\/a>. <\/p>\n