Violent Storms Rock Central Texas

Copperas Cove, Texas- At least 5 deaths are confirmed as a result of a violent storm that has hit the central Texas area over the past 48 hours, many more or missing or unconfirmed and even more have storm-related injuries. The storm, which is centralized on Killen, Texas with neighboring cities of Copperas Cove, Harker Heights and even Lampassas getting parts of it, began yesterday evening on the last day of school for local students. This is one of the worst storms seen all year and the severity of it has taken the community off-guard.

The sudden rains, flash flooding and power outages were not only a bad way to start the summer, but also a very dangerous blow to the surrounding cities. It came so sudden that some people did not even know it was going to hit and many were caught on their way home from work, school and other daily activities, forcing them to drive in the terrible rain and the roads began to flood.

KDH News reports on the confirmed deaths so far as a result of this storm. An elderly couple in Copperas Cove was unable to be rescued after they were caught out in the storm, a 20-year old man in Killeen was found in the cement culvert on Avenue G and KDH News reports that "The Killeen Police Department discovered a vehicle with two bodies inside before 10 a.m. this morning on Watercrest and Prestige in Killeen." Many more are missing and several are reported homeless as a result of these storms.

The Killeen Regional Airport reports over 21 inches of rain over the past 48 hours. That's almost as much as the 30 inches the area normally gets in one full year. Those figures give you an idea of just how bad the flooding is as a result of this rain. Streets are flooded and many homes were damaged and had to be evacuated. Many exits off of Highway 190 have been shut down due to flooding and many side streets are closed or completely under water.