3COM Weather Report: Death toll from Texas floods now at 26
WHARTON, Texas - As a grieving relative fainted, a car was pulled from a muddy creek
Thursday holding the bodies of four more victims of the state's devastating flooding. The
deaths brought the toll to 26.
Divers in San Antonio located the white Lincoln Town Car in 10 to 12 feet of water in
muddy Salado Creek and found inside the bodies of Donna O'Bar, 65; her son, Richard
Hartman, 47; Jennifer Allensworth, 20, and Ms. Allensworth's 2-month-old baby,
Mallory Hartman.
They were last seen Saturday night in Jourdanton, a suburb south of San Antonio, leaving
a wedding reception during heavy rains that had swamped Central and South Texas.
Justin Hartman, of Bryan, the father of the infant and Ms. Obar's grandson, was watching
the search Thursday and fainted when the car was pulled from the creek. He was traveling
in another vehicle when the car carrying the four was swept off a road Saturday night.
"We looked everywhere," said Tanya Griffin, Ms. Allensworth's aunt. "We have looked
on every road. We went down creeks. ... We knew something was wrong."
Runoff from the torrential rains was focused on Wharton Thursday,
where the flood-swollen Colorado River climbed to record-setting
levels and threatened to flood up to 40% of the town of 10,200 people.
Wharton, 55 miles southwest of Houston, is just the latest victim of
flooding that has affected 60 counties. Besides the 26 deaths, at
least one other person, a 7-year-old boy, remains missing.
On Wednesday, President Clinton declared 20 counties disaster areas, making them
eligible for federal aid. State officials have put preliminary damage estimates at $400
million. Gov. George W. Bush has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to
declare five more counties disaster areas.
The same nightmarish story has been told in town after town. San Marcos, Seguin and
New Braunfels, Cuero and Victoria have all seen floodwaters turn streets into filthy lakes,
dotted with debris crawling with ants.
Hundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes by boat, on foot and sometimes
by helicopter. It was Wharton's turn on Wednesday; at least 100 people took refuge at the
civic center in nearby El Campo.
"They said it could come into the house and with the kids, we didn't want to take any
chances," said Jenna McCann, who fled with her husband and their 10-month-old and
3-year-old daughters.
A family of nine tried to stay, then chose to be rescued by rowboat when muddy water
climbed halfway up their home's front steps.
"We didn't think it was going to get that high," Robin McGrew, 28, said as her aunt
clutched her dog to her chest and rode across the lake that once was her front yard.
The Colorado was forecast to crest at near 50 feet by tonight. That would be 11 feet above
flood stage and top the 1991 record of 46.1 feet.
"I was in the floods of '91, and it wasn't good. I think this is going to be worse," said
Bob Adams, a 15-year resident. He and his wife were leaving for a motel.
Adams was one of dozens of people who flocked to the town's riverfront park to watch the
rising waters. Some, like him, wanted one last peek before leaving. Others brought video
cameras.
The park, a gathering spot for sweethearts and families, has been swallowed by the river.
Picnic tables and barbecue pits now rest beneath the murky waters like sunken treasure.
The town square sits just a block away. Its shops and restaurants escaped damage in the
1991 floods, but this time store owners aren't taking any chances. They stacked sandbags
in front of their property and moved their goods to higher ground.
"I put everything up that I could, and I'll just hope and pray for the rest," said Carolyn
Garfield, who owns a resale shop. "I'm concerned, but I don't think the worst is here yet.
When the real rush gets here, we'll be swimming."
By The Associated Press
David was heard to remark: "Hey, tech stocks have been under water
all year, what's a little more".
o~~~ O |
