• Heavy rainfall has complicated search operations for flood victims in Texas, pausing efforts due to safety concerns.
• The confirmed death toll has risen to at least 132 in the aftermath of catastrophic July 4 floods.
• Officials have issued new flood warnings as more rain is expected, with several areas under watch.
• Search teams are facing challenges in locating missing individuals, with over 160 still unaccounted for.
• Criticism mounts over the emergency response and lack of warning systems in the affected regions.

Emergency crews in Kerr County, Texas, have suspended search operations for flood victims amid new weather warnings that predict further rainfall, exacerbating an already grave situation after the catastrophic July Fourth floods killed at least 132 people. Authorities are concerned that the Guadalupe River could overflow again, making the search area increasingly perilous, according to Los Angeles Times and Reuters.

As of Monday, more than 160 individuals are still reported missing in Kerr County, prompting Ogden efforts from local and federal agencies, including FEMA, to resume search activities. However, new rounds of rain have forced these teams to pause operations for safety reasons, leading Governor Greg Abbott to express concern about the potential for worsening flood conditions, according to HuffPost and Los Angeles Times.

Search operations were first halted on Sunday due to concerns over flash floods, with the National Weather Service advising residents and search teams to seek higher ground. The region experienced a rapid rise in water levels earlier this month, with the Guadalupe River swelling 26 feet in under an hour during the initial flood and claiming many lives at locations such as Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp, according to reports from Los Angeles Times and HuffPost.

Officials are urging vigilance as additional storms threaten the safety of search teams and the community, with new flood watches predicting rainfall rates of up to half a foot in areas still recovering from the devastating floods. Governor Abbott has stated that lawmakers will evaluate the government’s response and preparedness ahead of a legislative session later this month to address the aftermath of the flooding, according to Los Angeles Times and Reuters.