Recent flash flooding events have claimed lives and damaged property in Texas, North Carolina, Illinois and New Mexico. While all extreme weather events have been associated with their own triggering mechanisms,

Tropical Depression Chantal triggers flash floods in North Carolina and Virginia, with millions under alerts and rescue efforts underway

Floods have been extremely destructive in many areas of the country over the last week. They've caused widespread damage and several casualties in central Texas, and recent flash floods have been deadly in New Mexico.

A tropical storm watch stretches along the coast from Edisto Beach, S.C., to the South Santee River. The hurricane center said those elsewhere along the southeast coast of the United States should also keep an eye on Chantal. Chantal is expected to track slowly to the north and then northwest and move onshore in South Carolina by Sunday morning.

Southeast Texas residents gathered Wednesday evening to pray for flood victims and missing persons from the devastating Texas Hill Country flooding tragedy.

Flooding has caused an average of more than 125 deaths per year in the U.S. over the past few decades, according to the National Weather Service, and flash floods are the nation’s top storm-related killer.

Heavy rains fell on Orange County and the region on Sunday, causing flash flooding and leading to both evacuations and road closures.