
Fears Trump cuts may have led to scaled-back Texas flood predictions
Devastating floods in Central Texas have resulted in at least 51 fatalities, including 15 children, with 27 attendees of Camp Mystic still unaccounted for.
Texas officials are questioning the accuracy of National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts, saying that predicted rainfall amounts were significantly lower than what actually occurred.
The NWS issued a "life-threatening flash flooding" warning over three hours before the first reports of flooding, and meteorologists are defending the agency's actions despite the difficulty of pinpointing exact rainfall.
Concerns have been raised that previous staff reductions at the NWS, implemented by President Donald Trump 's administration, may have impacted the agency's forecasting capabilities, despite claims of adequate staffing.
Local lawmakers are anticipating "finger-pointing" over the response, while Donald Trump has described the floods as a "shocking" tragedy and pledged federal aid.
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Wales Online
42 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Two young girls miraculously found alive clinging to huge tree after being swept away in Texas floods
Two young girls miraculously found alive clinging to huge tree after being swept away in Texas floods The rescue represents a rare moment of hope after Kerr County authorities confirmed at least 59 deaths (Image: AFP via Getty Images ) In an extraordinary rescue, two young girls who went missing during the severe floods in Texas were discovered alive, clinging to a tree nearly 30ft high. The girls were rescued in the area between Comfort and Homillus Road in Center Point, during an ongoing search operation. Eyewitnesses described the dramatic rescue, which provided a rare glimmer of hope amidst the devastation. However, the same search efforts also recovered four bodies in the area, as reported by The Kerr County Lead. As of Sunday, Kerr County authorities confirmed at least 59 deaths, with no clear total of missing individuals across the county that has been severely impacted by the flooding. Among the confirmed dead are at least 21 children, including some who went missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls in Hunt, Texas. According to Elinor Lester, a 13-year-old camper who was rescued, the camp was "completely destroyed". Recounting the terrifying experience, she said: "The camp was completely destroyed. "A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary." The flash floods have left a trail of destruction in their wake, with water levels rising a staggering 26ft in just 45 minutes on Friday, sweeping away homes and vehicles. Article continues below With flash flood watches still in effect and further rain falling in central Texas on Sunday, the danger is far from over, reports the Manchester Evening News. Search teams utilising helicopters, boats, and drones have been working tirelessly to locate victims and assist individuals trapped in trees or isolated by destroyed roads, with more than 850 individuals rescued in just the initial 36 hours, according to official reports. President Donald Trump has activated Federal Emergency Management Agency support for Texas by formally signing a major disaster declaration for Kerr County. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here "These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing," stated Trump on his social media channels. In a dedicated effort to manage the catastrophe, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has promised relentless action by authorities, revealing that as floodwaters retreat, new areas are being explored. He's also designated the upcoming Sunday as a day for prayer across 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," read Abbott's official statement. Article continues below Meanwhile, in Rome, Pope Leo XIV dedicated special prayers to those affected by the calamity. peaking in English after his Sunday noon blessing, the pontiff said: "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."


BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Wetin to know about di Texas flood wey kill over 80 pipo including children dem wey go camp
At least 81 pipo don die for central Texas and anoda 41 dey miss afta one flash floods wey happun on Friday, 4 July. Sixty-eight of di fatalities, include 28 children, wey bin dey Kerr County, wia one riverside Christian girls camp dey located. Ten girls and one counsellor from Camp Mystic still dey miss. Five confirmed casualties dey for Travis County, three for Burnet County, two for Williamson County, two for Kendall County and one for Tom Green County. Figures dey change quickly as rescuers continue to search for pipo wey miss, and officials say e sure say death toll go rise. 'Horrific' flood sweep away girls for Camp Mystic summer camp 28 children dey among di pipo wey die. Dem be dey Kerr County, wia one riverside Christian girls camp dey located. Ten girls and one counsellor from Camp Mystic still dey miss. Camp Mystic, na one Christian girls camp wey sit near di banks of di Guadalupe River for Texas, na place of laughter, prayer and adventure just days ago. But just bifor daybreak on Friday, di Fourth of July public holiday, di river bin rise to 26ft (8m) in about 45 minutes for di middle of one heavy downpour. Many of di hundreds of girls for di camp bin dey sleep for one low-lying cabins wey dey less dan 500ft (150m) from di riverbank. Potopoto don cover di bed bunks now, wey show wetin remain of di summer camp wey cut short tragically. Destroyed personal belongings scata across soaked interiors wia children bin once gada for Bible study and campfire songs. Dem recover from Kerr County, 18 adults and 10 children wey dem neva formally identify. Desperate Camp Mystic parents bin take to social media dey find tori about dia children. One Facebook group - Kerrville Breaking News - turn into missing persons page. Some parents don since update dia social media pages to say dia missing family members no survive. Kerr County dey for di heart of di Texas Hill Country, one getaway destination sake of im scenic rolling hills, countless rivers and lakes and abundance of wineries. But di region also dey known as "Flash Flood Alley", sake of di recurring threat wey don devastate local communities ova di years. Wen pipo ask why di riverside summer camp no dey evacuated, officials say di sudden scale of di flood catch dem unawares. "No-one know say dis kind of flood dey come," Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly tok. More storms dey expected in di next 24-48 hours for di region, wey fit affect rescue teams wey already dey face poisonous snakes as dem dey waka through mud and debris. Three days afta di flood, one of di largest search-and-rescue efforts for recent Texas history dey shift towards recovery operation. Di major focus of di search na Camp Mystic. Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Sunday tok say authorities go "stop at nothing" to ensure say dem find every missing pesin. "E dey very horrific to see wetin those young children go through," Oga Abbott tok one day afta e tour di area. E no clear how many oda pipo bin dey camp for di area for di Fourth of July weekend - and how many pipo di floods fit don sweep away. One two-lane highway wey dey di Guadalupe River and connect di city of Kerrville to Camp Mystic na scene of devastation. Fallen trees surround houses wey don destroy and furnitures scata everywhere. Fences don fall and utility lines no dey work for some areas. Why di flood bin dey so deadly? Questions don rise about if authorities provide adequate flood warnings and why dem no evacuate pipo ahead of di flood. Judge Rob Kelly, di top elected official for Kerr County, tell CBS say di severity of di flooding dey unexpected. "We no get any reason to believe dis go be anything like wetin happun for here. None whatsoever," Kelly tok. Di first hint of di devastation to come bin appear on Thursday morning as rain and thunderstorms soak a number of central Texas counties. Di National Weather Service (NWS) bin issue one common warning dem call flood watch at 13:18 dat afternoon for parts of di region, including Kerr County. For di early hours of Friday, di outlook don become more serious as di NWS issue series of upgraded warnings. Di San Saba river, di Concho River and di Colorado River bin dey rise. Within di space of 45 minutes, di Guadalupe River don rise by 26ft (8m), wey cause di banks to burst. On Wednesday, 2 July, di Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) bin activate state emergency response resources sake of "increased threats of flooding for parts of West and Central Texas" On Thursday afternoon, di National Weather Service (NWS) bin issue flood watch wey highlight Kerr County, central Texas, as place wey get high risk of flash flooding overnight At 01:14 local time (06:14 GMT) on Friday, authorities issue flash flood warning for Kerr Country At 04:03 local time (09:30 GMT) dem issue emergency flash flood warning for Kerr County, followed by anoda for di Guadalupe River at 05:34 By Saturday evening, at least 51 pipo don die, including 15 children. For one news conference on Sunday 6 July, Governor, Greg Abbott tok say pipo for Texas dey used to flash flood warnings. "But expectation no dey say di water wall go rise to almost 30ft high," e add. What next? President Donald Trump don sign one major disaster declaration on Sunday for Kerr County, and e activate di Federal Emergency Management Agency to Texas. E also say im go probably visit di state on Friday. "We dey work very closely wit representatives from Texas, and na horrible tin happun, absolutely horrible," Trump tok on Sunday for New Jersey. On di ground, local residents dey step up to support relief efforts - dem dey collect supplies, offer shelter, and dey do wetin dem fit do to help neighbours displaced by di storm. Meanwhile, well wishes dey pour in from around di world. For Rome, Pope Leo XIV bin offer special prayers on Sunday for di bereaved for Texas. "I go like to express sincere condolences to all di families wey lost dia loved ones, in particular dia daughters wey dey for summer camp, for di disaster wey di flooding of di Guadalupe River for Texas for di United States cause," di pontiff tok. "We pray for dem." Angélica Casas and Alex Lederman contribute to dis report.


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Moment entire cabin full of people swept downriver in Texas flooding
Footage shows a cabin full of people being swept down the Guadalupe River in Hill County, Texas, as deadly flash floods tore through the region, killing at least 82 people. Torrential rains struck Kerr County and neighbouring areas over the holiday weekend, trapping locals, campers, and 4 July tourists. In the video, the cabin is seen hurtling through the floodwaters in darkness, as an onlooker is heard saying: 'Oh my God, there's so many people in it.' Reports speculate the cabin belonged to the nearby Camp La Junta in Hunt. The camp posted on Facebook on Friday, 5 July, stating, 'Everyone at Camp La Junta is safe and accounted for.'