Latest on Texas flooding as 20 children remain missing
The Guadalupe River rose to nearly 35 feet, its second-highest on record, after up to 10 inches of rain caused flash floods in Kerr County.
Governor Greg Abbott signed an emergency disaster declaration, mobilising state resources and calling in the National Guard to assist with search and rescue efforts.
An RV park was swept away, and authorities responded to dozens of emergency calls, describing the event as a 'once-in-a-lifetime flood' for the county.
Separately, storms in the Northeast US caused three deaths in New Jersey and widespread power outages and damage across New England.
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The Guardian
34 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Drone footage shows extent of flooding in Texas after dozens killed and more missing
A drone video showed the scale of devastation left by the flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas on Friday. Trees, houses and cars were under water as rescue teams searched for missing people, including those attending the Christian all-girls Camp Mystic summer camp outside the town of Kerrville 64 miles (104km) north-west of San Antonio. Donald Trump said: 'We'll take care of them,' when asked about federal aid for the disaster
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Incredible story of little summer camp girl clinging on for dear life in a tree after being swept 12 MILES down flooded river... as death toll hits 24 and dozens still missing
A young girl has been dramatically rescued after she was swept 12 miles down stream by raging floods in Texas which have so far claimed the lives of 24 people. The terrified youngster was pictured clinging to the branches of a tree as the rapids swelled beneath her. The girl, who is yet to be identified, was later taken to safety, News 4 San Antonio reports. A separate video showed a helicopter airlifting an individual to safety after the unprecedented floods hit Texas yesterday. Kerr County was ravaged by fast-moving waters which decimated a summer camp leaving over 20 girls unaccounted for. Officials have launched a massive rescue effort to locate dozens of missing individuals. The names of those killed have not been shared, but the final death toll is expected to rise substantially as floodwaters recede. Among those feared dead are children who were staying at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, after the Guadalupe River flooded and surged by up to 30 feet above its usual water level Friday. Identities of the missing have begun to emerge as stricken families share photos of their loved ones in the hopes of learning information about their whereabouts. Terrified parents of those missing said they have been left in limbo as they await news from the ongoing searches, with the mother of one missing young campers, Janie Hunt, 9, saying: 'We are just praying.' Officials have stressed they hope to rescue many of the missing and say they're still hopeful of finding most of those missing safe and well. But the sheer scale of destruction - with buildings ripped from their foundations and cars swept away like toys - suggests that may be an overly optimistic prediction. At a press conference late on Friday evening, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the floods had been devastating, and declared that 'we need God more than ever.' 'It needs God, but it also needs a robust response... searches will continue in the darkness of night, and they will continue' into the early hours of Saturday, Abbott said. 'We'll put in everything we have in the entire state.' At least 14 helicopters, 12 drones and more than 500 people from various units have joined search efforts, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at the presser. Over 150 people were airlifted from danger during the extensive search and rescue efforts by Texas authorities throughout Friday. Officials said at the press conference on Friday night that a total of 237 people were rescued by authorities through the day, with many more still unaccounted for. President Donald Trump also broke his silence on the devastating floods in Texas, as he pledged to fully support the ongoing recovery efforts. 'It's terrible, the floods, it's shocking,' he said late Friday evening. Trump was asked by reporters if he would provide federal aid to the area, to which he responded: 'We'll take care of them.' 'It's a terrible thing,' he added. The remarks came as footage from the ongoing searches of the Guadalupe River show a helicopter heroically saving someone from the flood damage. The footage showed a person being hoisted from the river as one of 14 helicopters deployed during the searches lifted them to safety. As some families were left in limbo awaiting their children at reunification centers, parent Serena Hanor Aldrich told the New York Times that she was thankful her two daughters, aged 9 and 12, were rescued during the floods, but said the camp runners should have been ready for the torrential rainfall. 'They should have been watching the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Kerr County,' she said. 'They were posting stuff yesterday morning. They should have been on top of it.' She said her daughters were safe because they were in camps that were on higher ground, but Camp Mystic runs a number of campsites along the Guadalupe River that were overwhelmed by flood waters. 'There are still campers missing,' Aldrich said at a reunification center, where other parents were still waiting for their children to return.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Texas flooding latest: Desperate search for girls missing from summer camp after 24 killed
A desperate search is underway for dozens of children missing from a summer camp after devastating floods hit Texas, killing at least 24. The unexpected flash flooding struck on Friday after torrential rain along the Guadalupe River. As of Friday night, at least 237 had been rescued or evacuated, including 167 by helicopters, Reuters reported. The destructive force of the fast-rising waters just before dawn on Friday washed out homes and swept away vehicles. The total number of missing was not known but the sheriff said between 23 and 25 of them were girls who had been attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river. At least 400 people were on the ground helping in the response, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said. Nine rescue teams, 14 helicopters and 12 drones were being used, with some people being rescued from trees. U.S. president Donald Trump has described the floods as 'terrible' and "shocking". What caused the flooding? The catastrophic flooding was caused by torrential rain - but city authorities and forecasters did not predict that it was about to strike. One National Weather Service forecast this week had called for only between three and six inches (76 to 152 millimeters) of rain, said Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. "It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw," he said. Officials defended their preparations for severe weather and their response but said they had not expected such an intense downpour that was, in effect, the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area. Alex Croft5 July 2025 12:13 At least 24 dead and more than 20 children missing in catastrophic Texas flooding At least 24 people are reported dead and many more are missing, including girls from a Christian summer camp, after catastrophic river flooding hit central Texas Thursday and Friday. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said by Friday evening 24 people have been killed in the flooding, according to The New York Times. Texas officials said the number of missing is unknown but between 23 and 25 of them were girls who had been attending Camp Mystic. Girls from a Christian summer camp are among those missing after the Guadalupe River flooded in Texas Alex Croft5 July 2025 12:04
