Death Toll Rises to 10, Dozens Missing in Texas, Oklahoma Floods

Ten have been reported dead and dozens missing after a string of floods caused by a strong storm system pummeled Texas and Oklahoma this week.

Tornadoes in Oklahoma and flooding in parts of Central Texas, especially near the state's Blanco River, caused several to go missing and about ten people to be declared dead, either from being swept away by flood waters or from destructive tornadoes.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared disasters in 37 counties, and U.S. President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that the state would soon be receiving federal aid to help with the "terrible" flooding.

"I assured Gov. Abbott that he could count on the help of the federal government. We have FEMA personnel already on the ground. They are coordinating with Texas emergency management authorities and I will anticipate that there will be some significant requests made to Washington. My pledge to him is that we will expedite those requests," Obama told reporters in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.

According to the Los Angeles Times, recent storm-related deaths in Texas include a man who died after his home was hit by a tornado, and a homecoming queen who died in the floodwaters in Devine, Texas after she and her vehicle became trapped in high water.

"We got hammered," Houston Emergency Management Coordinator Rick Flanagan told CNN in a recent interview, adding: "We had cars that were stranded, mobility was stopped  [...] signals didn't work. It was just a madhouse."