More of Erin’s flood vicims found in Texas

updated 1:12 a.m. ET Aug. 18, 2007

HOUSTON - Rescuers searched Friday for people swept away in flash floods caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin, as wary residents across the Gulf Coast watched Hurricane Dean charging through the Caribbean.

At least six people died Thursday and another one was missing because of Erin’s thunderstorms.

The storms dropped up to 11 inches of rain in parts of San Antonio, Houston and the Texas Hill Country. Officials throughout central and south Texas expected more rain Friday, with forecasts of 8 inches in West Texas.

“The ground’s already saturated, then with the amount of rain we got today it’s just running off and causing flash flooding, so if we get additional rain it will be a major concern for us,” said Orlando Hernandez, emergency management coordinator for Bexar County, where San Antonio is located.

In the eastern Caribbean islands of St. Lucia and Martinique, Hurricane Dean tore roofs off buildings and knocked out power. Airports were closed, hotels evacuated and tourists sent to shelters as 100 mph winds swept over the islands. But Dean, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, appeared days away from the Gulf Coast. Dean strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane Friday and was expected to get stronger in the next day.

Storm bears down on Gulf
The National Weather Service forecast several potential tracks for the unpredictable storm over the next five days — some had it barreling into Mexico; others had it hammering the Texas coast.

In Texas, Gov. Rick Perry declared the storm an “imminent threat” and initiated full-scale preparations. Fuel trucks were dispatched to coastal communities, storm-response task forces were put on alert and supply trucks and other resources were pre-positioned along evacuation routes.

“It’s so far out, but it’s not too early to start preparing,” said Perry spokeswoman Katherine Cesinger. “We have more notice than with Erin. We’re glad for that especially since (Dean) is projected to bring some strength.”

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency Friday and requested a federal declaration that would allow federal resources to flow to the state should Dean strike any part of the Louisiana coast.

Forecast projections showed a slim chance of the storm jumping northward toward Louisiana, but it was enough to put Louisiana emergency preparedness officials on high alert, given the weakened condition of the state’s coastline since it was pummeled by hurricanes Katrina and Rita a little less than two years ago.

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