Texas Hill Country flooding: Preparation, better tools spared lives in second straight July flood

One yearafter catastrophic floodingkilled more than 100 people along the Guadalupe River, another round of deadly July flooding swept across Central and South Texas, creatingflash flood emergenciesthat forced evacuations and rescues along the Guadalupe and elsewhere.

But while the two July storms were sometimes similar in intensity and effect, they unfolded in unique ways - swift and concentrated last year vs. multiple rounds of heavy rain over days across a broad region this week.

And while weather officials said they took the same approach to issuing warnings, residents and responders on the ground said they had more tools available to them and the motivation of anxiety borne from last year's horrific tragedy.

The result: A dramatically lower death toll amid widespread and catastrophic flooding.

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Governor Greg Abbott issued a major disaster declaration Friday for counties impacted by flooding in the Texas Hill Country.

The declaration includes 28 counties that were hit the hardest by flooding, Abbott said in a presser. He said additional counties can and will be added as needed.

Abbott said Uvalde County was among the hardest-hit areas, with floodwaters surrounding it to the point that it nearly became an island amid the surrounding rivers.

Abbott said state crews have rescued more than 270 people, and local officials in Uvalde and Zavala have rescued more than 300.

About 125 people are currently staying in shelters in the Uvalde area, according to the governor.

Abbott said the death toll from the flooding remains at two.

The state has provided 2,700 personnel, 1,500 vehicles, 90 boats, and 20 aircraft as part of its response, Abbott said.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department released an updated rescue count on Saturday afternoon.

According to the TPWD, 153 people have been rescued, 92 have been evacuated, and 5 pets/animals have been evacuated.

The department said the statistics only apply to Texas Game Wardens and that it does not have information on the response statistics of other agencies.

Firefighters rescued a woman from the attic of a flooded home in Kendall County on Thursday after she initially refused to evacuate earlier, rescue officials said.

According to the Comfort Volunteer Fire Department, firefighters attempted to evacuate a couple from their home due to the risk of flooding, but the couple chose to stay.

When crews returned later to check on them, they said they found a woman trapped in the attic, with the floodwater reaching two to three feet inside the house.

Comfort VFD said firefighters climbed into the attic, secured the woman into a rescue harness, and lowered her to safety. Officials said everyone made it out of the house safely.