At least 161 people missing in Texas floods as death toll rises to 109

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: At least 161 people remain missing and 109 are confirmed dead after catastrophic floods swept through Central Texas over the July 4 weekend, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday
• Torrential rains caused rivers to overflow, inundating campgrounds and residential areas, with dozens of children among the dead
• Abbott described the event as one of the deadliest floods in U.S. history, surpassing the toll of Hurricane Harvey

🔭 The context: Central Texas, particularly the Hill Country, is historically prone to flash flooding due to its geography and dense river network
• However, the intensity and suddenness of last week’s rainfall overwhelmed existing alert systems, exposing gaps in disaster preparedness and communication
• Lawmakers in Texas had debated a statewide flood monitoring and preparedness plan earlier this year, but the legislation stalled in the state Senate

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This tragedy highlights the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events linked to climate change, which amplifies rainfall and flood risks
• As populations in vulnerable regions grow, the need for adaptive infrastructure, early warning systems, and resilient planning becomes more urgent
• The Texas floods underscore the human cost of delayed policy action and inadequate risk mitigation

⏭️ What's next: President Trump has signed a disaster declaration for Kerr County, with a visit to the flood zone planned for Friday
• In Texas, Governor Abbott is expected to add flood preparedness legislation to the July 21 special legislative session
• State lawmakers will also hold hearings to examine shortcomings in the emergency response
• Search and rescue efforts continue, with helicopters deployed to locate missing persons, while the death toll is expected to rise

💬 One quote: “We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for,” Abbott pledged at Tuesday’s briefing, calling the destruction “beyond anyone’s comprehension right now”

📈 One stat: The Texas Hill Country has already recorded more than 109 flood deaths — making this one of the deadliest U.S. flood events in over 50 years

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