Texas Floods Claim Dozens, Many Still Missing
The number of fatalities from the devastating Texas floods continues to climb. Rescue teams are still searching for those missing, including 11 children at a summer camp and one of its workers.
Rising Death Toll
Tragically, the death toll reached nearly 80 on Sunday, as search teams recovered more bodies in hard-hit Kerr County. Among the deceased were children who had been camping along the Guadalupe River’s edge. Local officials have pledged to continue the search until every missing person is located.
Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has declared the catastrophic flooding a major disaster under the Stafford Act. According to a letter he signed and posted on social media to **Greg Abbott**, the Texas governor, “I have authorized federal relief and recovery assistance in the affected area.”
The letter also indicated that “Individual Assistance and Public Assistance will be provided.”
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been designated by **Trump** to coordinate assistance efforts.
Sheriff’s Report
**Larry Leitha**, the Kerr County sheriff, stated that 68 individuals have died in his county, which includes 40 adults and 28 children. Fatalities have additionally been reported in Travis, Burnet, and Kendall counties. According to **Abbott**, at least ten additional deaths occurred in other regions of the state, bringing the confirmed total to 78.
There are 41 people still unaccounted for across Texas. Eleven of the missing are girls from Camp Mystic. According to NOAA, flash floods are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Texas, resulting in over 240 fatalities since 2000 (NOAA).
Emergency Response
At a Sunday press conference, **Nim Kidd**, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, mentioned that he had received unconfirmed reports regarding “an additional wall of water”
flowing down creeks in the Guadalupe Rivershed. Rain continued to saturate the ground from the prior rainfall on Friday. Aircraft were dispatched to scout for additional floodwaters, and search-and-rescue personnel were alerted to withdraw from the river temporarily.
The U.S. National Weather Service issued flood warnings and advisories for central Texas, potentially complicating rescue operations as rain persisted.
Growing Concerns
Many are questioning whether enough warnings were given in the vulnerable area and if sufficient preparations had been made. Fast-moving waters rose approximately eight meters in 45 minutes before daybreak on Friday, sweeping away homes and vehicles. Flash flood watches remained active as rain continued to fall in central Texas on Sunday.
Search teams deployed helicopters, boats, and drones to locate victims and rescue individuals stranded in trees and isolated camps. Officials reported rescuing more than 850 people in the initial 36 hours. **Abbott** pledged ongoing efforts and designated Sunday as a day of prayer for the state.
“I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday – for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,”
he stated.
International Response
In Rome, **Pope Leo XIV** offered special prayers for those affected by the disaster. He stated at the conclusion of his Sunday noon blessing, “I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them.”
The Guadalupe River hills are home to numerous youth camps and campgrounds, popular swimming and outdoor recreation spots for generations. The area’s popularity during the Independence Day holiday makes it difficult to determine the total number of missing persons.
“We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,”
said **Dalton Rice**, Kerrville City manager.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors recounted harrowing experiences of being swept away, clinging to trees as floodwaters rushed by. Others sought refuge in their attics, praying the water would not reach them. At Camp Mystic, a cabin of girls held onto a rope strung by rescuers to cross a bridge with water surging around them.
Confirmed deaths include an eight-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, attending Camp Mystic, and the director of another camp nearby. Despite warnings and the area’s reputation as “flash flood alley”, the middle-of-the-night flooding caught many campers and residents off guard. The U.S. National Weather Service had issued potential flooding advisories on Thursday, followed by a series of flash flood warnings early Friday, culminating in rare flash flood emergencies.
