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Nearly a Dozen People Are Dead in Oklahoma and Texas After Devastating Weekend Rains

Hundreds of homes have been washed away in Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster in 24 counties.
Photo by Stephen Spillman/EPA

Storms expected to hit the central United States this afternoon are bringing fears of additional flooding after a devastating weekend of heavy rains left at least 11 people dead and 12 missing in Oklahoma and Texas, according to news reports.

Four people died in Oklahoma over the weekend including Claremore Fire Captain Jason Farley, according to Tulsa's News on 6. Farley was swept into a flooded storm drain on Sunday while helping a family that was stranded by high waters.

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Flooding and severe weather are expected to remain a threat into the evening.

Rescuers reached on Sunday 13 people who were trapped in a cabin due to rising waters in McCurtain County in southeast Oklahoma, according to KOKH-TV.

In Central Texas, twelve people are missing after the Blanco River surged 40 feet, washing away their vacation home in Hays County, according to the Associated Press. Up to 400 homes in the county have been washed away, CNN reports. Across the state, three people died from floods, while a fourth died when his mobile home was destroyed by a tornado.

"You cannot candy coat it. It's absolutely massive," Texas Governor Greg Abbott said of the destruction. On Monday, Abbott declared a state of disaster in 24 counties.

Flood warnings remain in effect for much of the Houston area, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

"We just can't take any more water," NWS meteorologist Kurt Van Speybroeck, told Reuters.

Scattered — Weather Underground (@wunderground)May 26, 2015

South of the border, Ciudad Acuña in Mexico saw its first tornado in the city's more than 100-year history, according to the AP. The twister left 13 people dead, including three infants. At least five are still missing, and another 300 were treated for injuries at hospitals.

"There's nothing standing, not walls, not roofs," Edgar Gonzalez, a spokesman for the city government, said.

Related: In photos: Vehicles tossed onto buildings in fierce tornado in Mexico; 13 dead