Texas issues major disaster declaration following extreme flooding

Nearly 1 trillion gallons of water fell on the three hardest-hit counties in Texas over three days - enough to fill 1.5 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, prompting Texas Governor Greg Abbott to request a Presidential Disaster Declaration.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration to aid in the state's response to severe weather and flooding affecting communities statewide.

"The Uvalde Community was hit very hard, but its residents are strong and resilient,"  Abbott said at a briefing, as he requests federal aid in the state's response to the extreme flooding.

"I am right now going to be issuing a major disaster declaration. What it does is it will open the door to federal relief to assist in the rebuilding of this region," Abbott said.

First responders in storm-battered Texas again rushed to save people trapped in high waters Friday, as more heavy rain widened the danger from floods that have killed at least two people and left hundreds more in need of rescue.

A week of punishing downpours dumped more than 60 centimetres in some areas.

The rain was expected to taper off, but another round of showers worsened already swollen rivers and flooded rural communities near the border with Mexico that had largely been spared major damage.

Near Ozona, a small town about 322 kilometres west of San Antonio, floodwaters spilled over Interstate 10.

More than 50 people were rescued by boat from flooded apartments and a water-logged RV park.

A section of a bridge also collapsed over the Nueces River in Uvalde County, where months' worth of rain has fallen in a span of days.