Severe weather, flooding in Texas causes death of 4-year-old boy, over 200 water rescues
A young child was found dead on Sunday near Fort Worth, Texas and hundreds have been rescued from floodwaters as the state was hit by extreme weather which included severe storms, heavy rainfall and flash flooding over the weekend.
The child, a 4-year-old boy, was found after a 911 call came in of a vehicle stuck in swift water. There were two adults and the child inside the vehicle, according a post from Johnson County Emergency Management Coordinator Jamie Moore.
Johnson County is located about 29 miles south of Fort Worth, and about 50 miles southwest of Dallas. Moore posted that crews had performed at least 16 or 17 water rescues as of Sunday.
Moore said the 911 caller saw the people inside the vehicle get out and attempt to get to dry ground on foot when all three were swept into the flood waters.
First responders arrived to the scene and began searching, and the two adults were both rescued and transported to the hospital. The boy was found dead in the water, Moore said.
The parents were released Sunday, and KHOU reported the boy was identified as Lucas Warren. Relatives have since set up a GoFundMe on behalf of the parents, which has raised over $23,000.
Southeast Texas hit by weekend of severe storms, flooding
At least 224 people were rescued from homes and vehicles on Saturday, but no deaths or serious injuries were reported, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in an interview with CNN. Houston is located in Harris County, which is the most populated county in Texas.
A flood watch expired for the area Sunday after 93 hours in effect, according to the National Weather Service in Houston, although moderate to major river flooding will remain a concern through the next several days to over a week.
What's the Texas forecast this week?
The rainfall received Sunday made it the ninth-wettest Cinco de Mayo on record, the National Weather Service in Fort Worth said.
More severe weather is expected around the Dallas/Fort Worth area Monday, with the weather service warning of isolated severe storms late in the afternoon bringing very large hail and damaging winds. The greatest threat is north of Interstate 20.
Isolated storms and showers are possible Monday around Houston, but conditions should stay dry and temperatures rise before a cold front sweeps through Thursday night.
There is a small chance for storms in San Angelo, Texas, but the National Weather Service says if they do develop, it could approach severe levels with large hail and damaging winds possible.
"Significant" severe weather is expected across portions of Plains states Monday, including Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Severe storms and the potential for strong tornadoes are possible, the National Weather Service says.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas extreme weather: Boy dies, water rescues as storms pummel state