Texas governor expects losses to near $1 billion
SAN ANTONIO (AP) – With flood warnings out and more rain looming, Gov. Rick Perry said Monday that he expected losses from the deadly flooding across Texas to be near $1 billion. “Once all these floodwaters recede, we’ll see the impact,” Perry said after touring a flood-damaged home in downtown San Antonio. “It’s going to be substantial. This is another major, major blow to the state of Texas.”
More than 30 inches of rain have fallen in the past week, sending streams and rivers pouring out of their banks from the Hill Country surrounding San Antonio to rural west Texas, more than 150 miles away.
Homes have been ripped off their foundations by the dirty brown water, and floodwaters have surged toward communities between here and the Gulf of Mexico.
The death toll Monday stood at eight and two more people were missing.
The American Red Cross said at least 48,000 houses have been affected in the San Antonio and Abilene regions alone.
Meanwhile, forecasters said a storm gathering in the gulf could dump significant rain on central and southern parts of the state already overwhelmed by too much water.
Perry has asked that 17 more counties be given the disaster designation that will allow residents and businesses to qualify for federal assistance.
Thirteen counties have already been declared federal disaster areas.
Earlier Monday, the governor walked through the home of Roman and Hilda Mendoza, who were flooded out last week when rain and runoff pushed Woodlawn Lake in San Antonio over its shores and into their neighborhood. More than 100 houses were damaged in the area.
As workmen labored on the cleanup, Perry felt for moisture on the Mendozas’ plasterboard walls and commiserated with them about the water-induced buckling in their hardwood floors.
Roman Mendoza said he didn’t know why his house was selected, but he was happy to show the governor what happened.
“It brings a little scope on how it hurt not only us, but how the rest of our neighbors were affected,” he said.
While San Antonio and points north cleaned up, the flooding continued along the coastal plain leading to the gulf. Flood warnings were in effect in 15 counties.
The Guadalupe River, which poured out of Canyon Lake and tore a destructive swath through New Braunfels and Seguin, remained flooded as far south as Victoria on Monday, but it was receding in most places.
The torrent of water out of Canyon Lake caused significant damage to the New Life Children’s Residential Treatment Center, which serves girls with severe emotional and behavioral problems. It will be closed for at least three months.
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On the Net:
National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov
State emergency page: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem