Alabama 8-year-old among dozens killed as floods sweep Texas summer camp
An 8-year-old from Alabama is among dozens dead after floodwaters swept through a Christian girls camp July 4 in Texas.
Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch confirmed the death of Sarah Marsh, a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary.
"This is an unimaginable loss for her family, her school, and our entire community," Welch said in a statement posted to Facebook. "Sarah's passing is a sorrow shared by all of us, and our hearts are with those who knew and loved her.
"As we grieve alongside the Marsh family, we also remember the many others affected by this tragedy. In the days ahead, I know Mountain Brook will do what it always does which is come together with passion, strength, and unwavering support for the Marsh family."
At least 43 were reported dead in the flooding (28 adults and 15 children), according to a Saturday evening press conference. Sheriff Larry Leitha said earlier in the day Saturday that at least 32 people died – 18 adults and 14 children.
When the flash flood struck early on Friday, Camp Mystic was less than a week into its second four-week term with more than 700 children in residence, according to details provided Friday by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. At least 18 adults and nine children had been confirmed dead after flooding rains rapidly overwhelmed the Guadalupe River. Ongoing search and rescue efforts ran through the night Friday and into Saturday.
More: Death toll rises in Texas flooding; over two dozen campers missing from Camp Mystic
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt said in a statement posted to X that she was heartbroken over Sarah's death.
"We continue to pray for the victims' loved ones, the survivors, those who are still missing, and our brave first responders as search and rescue efforts continue in Texas," Britt said.
Camp Mystic for Girls is a Christian retreat about six miles south of Hunt, Texas, in Kerr County. That's within Texas Hill Country, about 80 miles northwest of San Antonio.
The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet during the flash flood, weather service data shows.
USA TODAY reporters Jeanine Santucci, Joel Shannon and Eduardo Cuevas contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Texas flood: Alabama 8-year-old dies as floodwaters hit Camp Mystic
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'The internet can be a strange place': Ted Cruz confronts 'weather modification' conspiracy theories
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CBS News
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SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!" 8:47 a.m., Kerr County — NWS sends a repeat of its earlier warning to Kerr County. 9:04 a.m., Bandera and Kerr Counties — NWS sends a repeat of its earlier warning to these two counties. 9:37 a.m., Kerr and Real Counties — NWS sends a repeat of its earlier warning to Kerr County and adds Real County, its neighbor to the southwest. 10:06 a.m., Bandera and Kerr Counties — NWS sends a repeat of its earlier warning. 10:24 a.m., Kerr County — NWS sends a repeat of its earlier warning. 10:39 a.m., Bandera and Real Counties — NWS sends a repeat of its earlier warning to Bandera County and Real County, but not Kerr. 11:28 a.m., Bandera and Kerr Counties — NWS sends a repeat of its earlier warning to Kerr County and Bandera County. 11:38 a.m., Kerr County — NWS sends a repeat of its earlier warning to Kerr County with new, more pressing language: "a large and deadly flood wave is moving down the Guadalupe River. Flash flooding is already occurring. This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for the Guadalupe River from Hunt through Kerrvile and Center Point. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!" 12:07 p.m., Kerr County — NWS sends a repeat of its earlier warning to Kerr County. 1:20 p.m., Kerr and Bandera Counties — NWS sends a repeat/update of its earlier warning to Kerr County and Bandera County. 1:24 p.m., Kerr and Kendall Counties — NWS sends a repeat/update of its earlier warning to Kerr County and Kendall County. 2:03 p.m., Kerr and Bandera Counties — NWS sends a repeat/update of its earlier warning to Kerr County and Bandera County. 2:12 p.m., Kerr County — NWS sends a repeat/update of its earlier warning to Kerr County. 3:23 p.m., Kerr and Kendall Counties — NWS sends a repeat/update of its earlier warning to Kerr County and Kendall County. 3:53 p.m., Kerr and Bandera Counties — NWS sends a repeat/update of its earlier warning to Kerr County and Bandera County. 3:56 p.m., Kerr County — NWS sends a repeat/update of its earlier warning to Kerr County.
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WASHINGTON — Former federal officials and outside experts have warned for months that President Donald Trump's deep staffing cuts to the National Weather Service could endanger lives. After torrential rains and flash flooding struck Friday in the Texas Hill Country , the weather service came under fire from local officials who criticized what they described as inadequate forecasts, though most in the Republican-controlled state stopped sort of blaming Trump's cuts. Democrats, meanwhile, wasted little time in linking the staff reductions to the disaster, which is being blamed for the deaths of at least 80 people, including more than two dozen girls and counselors attending a summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River.
