Local News
URGENT FLOOD WARNING: North Fork of Guadalupe River Rising Rapidly
HUNT, Texas — A dangerous surge of floodwater is rapidly moving down the North Fork of the Guadalupe River, prompting immediate evacuation orders for communities in Hunt, Ingram, and Kerrville, according to emergency management officials.
Zac Hale, a volunteer assisting with search and recovery operations, reported that teams working along the riverbanks have now been evacuated due to a new wave of floodwater barreling downstream.
“We assisted with search efforts through debris piles and have now been pulled out. More flood water is coming fast,” Hale stated.
All emergency personnel have been ordered off the river and relocated to higher ground as a safety precaution.
Authorities have completely restricted access to and from Hunt, citing hazardous conditions caused by submerged and impassable low-water crossings. Emergency crews urge the public to stay out of the area.
Multiple agencies are issuing emergency flood alerts, warning of significant, life-threatening flooding along the North Fork of the Guadalupe River. Helicopters are actively flying overhead, using loudspeakers to instruct residents to evacuate immediately and move to higher ground.
“This is a rapidly developing and extremely dangerous situation. If you are anywhere near the Guadalupe River basin, do not delay. Evacuate to higher ground now,” officials said.
The Guadalupe River basin, already heavily saturated from historic rainfall earlier this week, is experiencing renewed flash flooding as additional water surges from upstream sources.
This comes in the aftermath of devastating floods that have already claimed dozens of lives and left many still unaccounted for, particularly near Camp Mystic and surrounding communities.
Residents and visitors in Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, and along the river corridor are being asked to immediately alert family and neighbors and to avoid all river access points.
“Tell your people and save lives. Get out of the riverbed. Get to safety. Another wall of water is coming,” emergency responders emphasized.
Please continue to monitor alerts from local emergency agencies, stay off the roads unless evacuating, and do not attempt to cross flooded areas.
This is a developing emergency.
Further updates will be issued as new information becomes available.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.