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Death toll from Texas floods reaches 43, many missing

Death toll from Texas floods reaches 43, many missing

The Advertiser2 days ago
Some 43 people, including 15 children, have been confirmed dead following flash floods in Texas, as rescuers continue a frantic search for campers, holidaymakers and residents who are still missing.
More than 850 people have been rescued, including some who were clinging to trees, after a sudden storm on Friday dumped up to 38cm of rain in an area around the Guadalupe River, about 140km northwest of San Antonio.
Among the missing were 27 girls from the Camp Mystic summer camp after river waters rapidly rose nine metres, Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said at a press conference on Saturday evening, and there may be others beyond that.
"We are kind of looking at this in two ways called the known missing, which is the 27 ... We will not put a number on the other side because we just don't know," Rice said.
"We know that the rivers rise, but nobody saw this coming," said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the top local official in the region.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said eight of the confirmed dead, including three children, had yet to be identified.
The US National Weather Service said the flash flood emergency has largely ended for Kerr County, following thunderstorms that dumped more than a 30cm of rain. That is half of the total the region sees in a typical year. A flood watch remained in effect for the broader region.
Kerr County sits in the Texas Hill Country, a rural area known for rugged terrain, historic towns and tourist attractions.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said an unknown number of visitors had come to the area for an Independence Day celebration by the river.
"We don't know how many people were in tents on the side, in small trailers by the side, in rented homes by the side," he said on Fox News Live.
Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flood, according to Patrick. Another girls' camp, Heart O' the Hills, said on its website that co-owner Jane Ragsdale had died in the flood but no campers had been present as it was between sessions.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a news briefing that he had asked President Donald Trump to sign a disaster declaration, which would unlock federal aid for those affected.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump said he and his wife Melania were praying for the victims.
"Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best," he said on social media.
Trump has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves.
Videos posted online showed bare concrete platforms where homes used to stand and piles of rubble along the banks of the river. Rescuers plucked residents from rooftops and trees, sometimes forming human chains to fetch people from the floodwater, local media reported.
Local officials said the extreme flooding struck before dawn on Friday with little or no warning, precluding authorities from issuing advance evacuation orders as the Guadalupe River swiftly rose above major flood stage in less than two hours.
The US administration has cut thousands of jobs from the National Weather Service's parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leaving many weather offices understaffed, said former NOAA director Rick Spinrad.
He said he did not know if those staff cuts factored into the lack of advance warning for the extreme Texas flooding, but said they would inevitably degrade the agency's ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts.
"People's ability to prepare for these storms will be compromised. It undoubtedly means that additional lives will be lost and probably more property damage," he said.
with reuters
Some 43 people, including 15 children, have been confirmed dead following flash floods in Texas, as rescuers continue a frantic search for campers, holidaymakers and residents who are still missing.
More than 850 people have been rescued, including some who were clinging to trees, after a sudden storm on Friday dumped up to 38cm of rain in an area around the Guadalupe River, about 140km northwest of San Antonio.
Among the missing were 27 girls from the Camp Mystic summer camp after river waters rapidly rose nine metres, Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said at a press conference on Saturday evening, and there may be others beyond that.
"We are kind of looking at this in two ways called the known missing, which is the 27 ... We will not put a number on the other side because we just don't know," Rice said.
"We know that the rivers rise, but nobody saw this coming," said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the top local official in the region.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said eight of the confirmed dead, including three children, had yet to be identified.
The US National Weather Service said the flash flood emergency has largely ended for Kerr County, following thunderstorms that dumped more than a 30cm of rain. That is half of the total the region sees in a typical year. A flood watch remained in effect for the broader region.
Kerr County sits in the Texas Hill Country, a rural area known for rugged terrain, historic towns and tourist attractions.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said an unknown number of visitors had come to the area for an Independence Day celebration by the river.
"We don't know how many people were in tents on the side, in small trailers by the side, in rented homes by the side," he said on Fox News Live.
Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flood, according to Patrick. Another girls' camp, Heart O' the Hills, said on its website that co-owner Jane Ragsdale had died in the flood but no campers had been present as it was between sessions.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a news briefing that he had asked President Donald Trump to sign a disaster declaration, which would unlock federal aid for those affected.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump said he and his wife Melania were praying for the victims.
"Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best," he said on social media.
Trump has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves.
Videos posted online showed bare concrete platforms where homes used to stand and piles of rubble along the banks of the river. Rescuers plucked residents from rooftops and trees, sometimes forming human chains to fetch people from the floodwater, local media reported.
Local officials said the extreme flooding struck before dawn on Friday with little or no warning, precluding authorities from issuing advance evacuation orders as the Guadalupe River swiftly rose above major flood stage in less than two hours.
The US administration has cut thousands of jobs from the National Weather Service's parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leaving many weather offices understaffed, said former NOAA director Rick Spinrad.
He said he did not know if those staff cuts factored into the lack of advance warning for the extreme Texas flooding, but said they would inevitably degrade the agency's ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts.
"People's ability to prepare for these storms will be compromised. It undoubtedly means that additional lives will be lost and probably more property damage," he said.
with reuters
Some 43 people, including 15 children, have been confirmed dead following flash floods in Texas, as rescuers continue a frantic search for campers, holidaymakers and residents who are still missing.
More than 850 people have been rescued, including some who were clinging to trees, after a sudden storm on Friday dumped up to 38cm of rain in an area around the Guadalupe River, about 140km northwest of San Antonio.
Among the missing were 27 girls from the Camp Mystic summer camp after river waters rapidly rose nine metres, Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said at a press conference on Saturday evening, and there may be others beyond that.
"We are kind of looking at this in two ways called the known missing, which is the 27 ... We will not put a number on the other side because we just don't know," Rice said.
"We know that the rivers rise, but nobody saw this coming," said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the top local official in the region.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said eight of the confirmed dead, including three children, had yet to be identified.
The US National Weather Service said the flash flood emergency has largely ended for Kerr County, following thunderstorms that dumped more than a 30cm of rain. That is half of the total the region sees in a typical year. A flood watch remained in effect for the broader region.
Kerr County sits in the Texas Hill Country, a rural area known for rugged terrain, historic towns and tourist attractions.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said an unknown number of visitors had come to the area for an Independence Day celebration by the river.
"We don't know how many people were in tents on the side, in small trailers by the side, in rented homes by the side," he said on Fox News Live.
Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flood, according to Patrick. Another girls' camp, Heart O' the Hills, said on its website that co-owner Jane Ragsdale had died in the flood but no campers had been present as it was between sessions.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a news briefing that he had asked President Donald Trump to sign a disaster declaration, which would unlock federal aid for those affected.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump said he and his wife Melania were praying for the victims.
"Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best," he said on social media.
Trump has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves.
Videos posted online showed bare concrete platforms where homes used to stand and piles of rubble along the banks of the river. Rescuers plucked residents from rooftops and trees, sometimes forming human chains to fetch people from the floodwater, local media reported.
Local officials said the extreme flooding struck before dawn on Friday with little or no warning, precluding authorities from issuing advance evacuation orders as the Guadalupe River swiftly rose above major flood stage in less than two hours.
The US administration has cut thousands of jobs from the National Weather Service's parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leaving many weather offices understaffed, said former NOAA director Rick Spinrad.
He said he did not know if those staff cuts factored into the lack of advance warning for the extreme Texas flooding, but said they would inevitably degrade the agency's ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts.
"People's ability to prepare for these storms will be compromised. It undoubtedly means that additional lives will be lost and probably more property damage," he said.
with reuters
Some 43 people, including 15 children, have been confirmed dead following flash floods in Texas, as rescuers continue a frantic search for campers, holidaymakers and residents who are still missing.
More than 850 people have been rescued, including some who were clinging to trees, after a sudden storm on Friday dumped up to 38cm of rain in an area around the Guadalupe River, about 140km northwest of San Antonio.
Among the missing were 27 girls from the Camp Mystic summer camp after river waters rapidly rose nine metres, Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said at a press conference on Saturday evening, and there may be others beyond that.
"We are kind of looking at this in two ways called the known missing, which is the 27 ... We will not put a number on the other side because we just don't know," Rice said.
"We know that the rivers rise, but nobody saw this coming," said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the top local official in the region.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said eight of the confirmed dead, including three children, had yet to be identified.
The US National Weather Service said the flash flood emergency has largely ended for Kerr County, following thunderstorms that dumped more than a 30cm of rain. That is half of the total the region sees in a typical year. A flood watch remained in effect for the broader region.
Kerr County sits in the Texas Hill Country, a rural area known for rugged terrain, historic towns and tourist attractions.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said an unknown number of visitors had come to the area for an Independence Day celebration by the river.
"We don't know how many people were in tents on the side, in small trailers by the side, in rented homes by the side," he said on Fox News Live.
Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flood, according to Patrick. Another girls' camp, Heart O' the Hills, said on its website that co-owner Jane Ragsdale had died in the flood but no campers had been present as it was between sessions.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a news briefing that he had asked President Donald Trump to sign a disaster declaration, which would unlock federal aid for those affected.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump said he and his wife Melania were praying for the victims.
"Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best," he said on social media.
Trump has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves.
Videos posted online showed bare concrete platforms where homes used to stand and piles of rubble along the banks of the river. Rescuers plucked residents from rooftops and trees, sometimes forming human chains to fetch people from the floodwater, local media reported.
Local officials said the extreme flooding struck before dawn on Friday with little or no warning, precluding authorities from issuing advance evacuation orders as the Guadalupe River swiftly rose above major flood stage in less than two hours.
The US administration has cut thousands of jobs from the National Weather Service's parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leaving many weather offices understaffed, said former NOAA director Rick Spinrad.
He said he did not know if those staff cuts factored into the lack of advance warning for the extreme Texas flooding, but said they would inevitably degrade the agency's ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts.
"People's ability to prepare for these storms will be compromised. It undoubtedly means that additional lives will be lost and probably more property damage," he said.
with reuters
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Texas flood death toll mounts as campers remain missing
Texas flood death toll mounts as campers remain missing

The Advertiser

timea day ago

  • The Advertiser

Texas flood death toll mounts as campers remain missing

The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas has reached 78 people including at least 28 children, as the search for girls missing from a summer camp enters a third day, and fears of more flash flooding as rain fell on saturated ground prompt fresh evacuations. Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, said 68 people had died in flooding in his county, the epicentre of the flooding, among them 28 children. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, said another 10 had died elsewhere in Texas and 41 confirmed missing. The governor did not say how many of the dead outside Kerr were children. Among the most devastating impacts of the flooding occurred at Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian girls camp. Sheriff Leitha said on Sunday that 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counsellor were still missing. The flooding occurred after the nearby Guadalupe River broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday, the US Independence Day holiday. Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said at the press conference on Sunday afternoon the destruction killed three people in Burnet County, one in Tom Green County, five in Travis County and one in Williamson County. "You will see the death toll rise today and tomorrow," said Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, also speaking on Sunday. Officials said on Saturday that more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 38cm of rain across the region, about 140km northwest of San Antonio. "Everyone in the community is hurting," Leitha told reporters. Kidd said he was receiving unconfirmed reports of "an additional wall of water" flowing down some of the creeks in the Guadalupe Rivershed, as rain continued to fall on soil in the region already saturated from Friday's rains. He said aircraft were sent aloft to scout for additional floodwaters, while search-and-rescue personnel who might be in harm's way were alerted to pull back from the river in the meantime. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and advisories for central Texas as rains fell, potentially complicating rescue efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on Sunday and is deploying resources to first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. US Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, the department said. Trump, who said on Sunday he would visit the disaster scene, probably on Friday, has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves. Some experts questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the Trump administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings ahead of the storm. Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flooding. The disaster unfolded rapidly on Friday morning as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as 9m. A day after the disaster struck, the summer camp was a scene of devastation. Inside one cabin, mud lines indicating how high the water had risen were at least 1.83m from the floor. Bed frames, mattresses and personal belongings caked with mud were scattered inside. Some buildings had broken windows, one had a missing wall. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas has reached 78 people including at least 28 children, as the search for girls missing from a summer camp enters a third day, and fears of more flash flooding as rain fell on saturated ground prompt fresh evacuations. Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, said 68 people had died in flooding in his county, the epicentre of the flooding, among them 28 children. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, said another 10 had died elsewhere in Texas and 41 confirmed missing. The governor did not say how many of the dead outside Kerr were children. Among the most devastating impacts of the flooding occurred at Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian girls camp. Sheriff Leitha said on Sunday that 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counsellor were still missing. The flooding occurred after the nearby Guadalupe River broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday, the US Independence Day holiday. Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said at the press conference on Sunday afternoon the destruction killed three people in Burnet County, one in Tom Green County, five in Travis County and one in Williamson County. "You will see the death toll rise today and tomorrow," said Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, also speaking on Sunday. Officials said on Saturday that more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 38cm of rain across the region, about 140km northwest of San Antonio. "Everyone in the community is hurting," Leitha told reporters. Kidd said he was receiving unconfirmed reports of "an additional wall of water" flowing down some of the creeks in the Guadalupe Rivershed, as rain continued to fall on soil in the region already saturated from Friday's rains. He said aircraft were sent aloft to scout for additional floodwaters, while search-and-rescue personnel who might be in harm's way were alerted to pull back from the river in the meantime. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and advisories for central Texas as rains fell, potentially complicating rescue efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on Sunday and is deploying resources to first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. US Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, the department said. Trump, who said on Sunday he would visit the disaster scene, probably on Friday, has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves. Some experts questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the Trump administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings ahead of the storm. Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flooding. The disaster unfolded rapidly on Friday morning as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as 9m. A day after the disaster struck, the summer camp was a scene of devastation. Inside one cabin, mud lines indicating how high the water had risen were at least 1.83m from the floor. Bed frames, mattresses and personal belongings caked with mud were scattered inside. Some buildings had broken windows, one had a missing wall. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas has reached 78 people including at least 28 children, as the search for girls missing from a summer camp enters a third day, and fears of more flash flooding as rain fell on saturated ground prompt fresh evacuations. Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, said 68 people had died in flooding in his county, the epicentre of the flooding, among them 28 children. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, said another 10 had died elsewhere in Texas and 41 confirmed missing. The governor did not say how many of the dead outside Kerr were children. Among the most devastating impacts of the flooding occurred at Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian girls camp. Sheriff Leitha said on Sunday that 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counsellor were still missing. The flooding occurred after the nearby Guadalupe River broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday, the US Independence Day holiday. Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said at the press conference on Sunday afternoon the destruction killed three people in Burnet County, one in Tom Green County, five in Travis County and one in Williamson County. "You will see the death toll rise today and tomorrow," said Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, also speaking on Sunday. Officials said on Saturday that more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 38cm of rain across the region, about 140km northwest of San Antonio. "Everyone in the community is hurting," Leitha told reporters. Kidd said he was receiving unconfirmed reports of "an additional wall of water" flowing down some of the creeks in the Guadalupe Rivershed, as rain continued to fall on soil in the region already saturated from Friday's rains. He said aircraft were sent aloft to scout for additional floodwaters, while search-and-rescue personnel who might be in harm's way were alerted to pull back from the river in the meantime. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and advisories for central Texas as rains fell, potentially complicating rescue efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on Sunday and is deploying resources to first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. US Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, the department said. Trump, who said on Sunday he would visit the disaster scene, probably on Friday, has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves. Some experts questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the Trump administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings ahead of the storm. Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flooding. The disaster unfolded rapidly on Friday morning as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as 9m. A day after the disaster struck, the summer camp was a scene of devastation. Inside one cabin, mud lines indicating how high the water had risen were at least 1.83m from the floor. Bed frames, mattresses and personal belongings caked with mud were scattered inside. Some buildings had broken windows, one had a missing wall. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas has reached 78 people including at least 28 children, as the search for girls missing from a summer camp enters a third day, and fears of more flash flooding as rain fell on saturated ground prompt fresh evacuations. Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, said 68 people had died in flooding in his county, the epicentre of the flooding, among them 28 children. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, said another 10 had died elsewhere in Texas and 41 confirmed missing. The governor did not say how many of the dead outside Kerr were children. Among the most devastating impacts of the flooding occurred at Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian girls camp. Sheriff Leitha said on Sunday that 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counsellor were still missing. The flooding occurred after the nearby Guadalupe River broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday, the US Independence Day holiday. Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said at the press conference on Sunday afternoon the destruction killed three people in Burnet County, one in Tom Green County, five in Travis County and one in Williamson County. "You will see the death toll rise today and tomorrow," said Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, also speaking on Sunday. Officials said on Saturday that more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 38cm of rain across the region, about 140km northwest of San Antonio. "Everyone in the community is hurting," Leitha told reporters. Kidd said he was receiving unconfirmed reports of "an additional wall of water" flowing down some of the creeks in the Guadalupe Rivershed, as rain continued to fall on soil in the region already saturated from Friday's rains. He said aircraft were sent aloft to scout for additional floodwaters, while search-and-rescue personnel who might be in harm's way were alerted to pull back from the river in the meantime. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and advisories for central Texas as rains fell, potentially complicating rescue efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on Sunday and is deploying resources to first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. US Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, the department said. Trump, who said on Sunday he would visit the disaster scene, probably on Friday, has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves. Some experts questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the Trump administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings ahead of the storm. Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flooding. The disaster unfolded rapidly on Friday morning as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as 9m. A day after the disaster struck, the summer camp was a scene of devastation. Inside one cabin, mud lines indicating how high the water had risen were at least 1.83m from the floor. Bed frames, mattresses and personal belongings caked with mud were scattered inside. Some buildings had broken windows, one had a missing wall. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)

Bewildering accounts of survival revealed as death toll climbs to 80 with 11 children still missing in catastrophic Texas floods
Bewildering accounts of survival revealed as death toll climbs to 80 with 11 children still missing in catastrophic Texas floods

Sky News AU

timea day ago

  • Sky News AU

Bewildering accounts of survival revealed as death toll climbs to 80 with 11 children still missing in catastrophic Texas floods

The death toll in the horrific Texas floods have surged to 80 people, with officials warning they expect the number to rise while dozens of young girls remain missing. Catastrophic flooding struck central Texas on Friday, with waters reaching between six and eight metres on the Guadalupe River, near Kerrville. It caused widespread damage and a complete washing out of roads. The death toll rose to 80 dead across six counties on Sunday US time, with officials in Kerr County reporting 68 deaths, including 40 adults and 28 children. In Travis County, four people are believed dead while three others have lost their lives in Burnet County, two in Kendall Country and one death each reported in Tom Green and Williamson counties, officials have said. Among the most devastating impacts of the flooding occurred at Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian camp, where 11 girls and a counsellor are still missing. The grandson of Camp Mystic's longtime director, Dick Eastland, said his grandfather had died while trying to save campers from the nightmare floodwaters. On Friday when asked why the summer camps in the area were not evacuated, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's top elected official said: 'I can't answer that. I don't know.' Officials on Saturday said more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 38 centimetres of rain across the region, about 140 km north-west of San Antonio. "It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through," said Governor of Texas Greg Abbott, who toured the area on Saturday and pledged to continue efforts to locate the missing people. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday he had 'signed a Major Disaster Declaration' for relief for Kerr County while the region deals with heavy rains and extreme flooding. The declaration allows first responders to have the access they need as they continue to work on search and rescue efforts. US Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said. 'These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing,' Trump wrote to Truth Social. Speaking to reporters late on Sunday, Trump vowed continued federal support for Texas and said he would 'probably' visit the state on Friday. 'We'll continue to be there. And we're working very closely with representatives from Texas, and it's a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible,' Trump told reporters as he departed New Jersey after a weekend at his golf club. 'So, we say, God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless, God bless the state of Texas,' Trump said. Asked about his plans to phase out the FEMA, Trump said it was a matter for another time. 'FEMA is something we can talk about later, but right now, they're busy working, so we'll leave it at that,' he said. The national weather service extended the flood watch over much of south-central Texas with several inches of rain still expected for the region on Sunday. Two brothers, Brock and Braeden Davis, caught up in the terrifying floods described how their beds were 'tipping over' as the rapidly rising water forced them to flee for their lives. The two young brothers had arrived at Camp La Junta earlier in the week and said they were abruptly woken up by the sound of screaming around 4am on Friday. 'I hear screaming from outside. Later on, I find out someone's cabin flooded, and they were outside in the middle of the rain,' Braeden said. 'We jumped up to another bed, a top bunk and like our beds started tipping over, and we got to the top really quick and then, one of the walls fell down,' Brock added. The two boys waited 13 hours on the top bunk until they were found. Trump has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves. Some experts questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the Trump administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings ahead of the storm. - With Reuters

Texas floods death toll rises as frantic search continues
Texas floods death toll rises as frantic search continues

Perth Now

timea day ago

  • Perth Now

Texas floods death toll rises as frantic search continues

Some 43 people, including 15 children, have been confirmed dead following flash floods in Texas, as rescuers continue a frantic search for campers, holidaymakers and residents who are still missing. More than 850 people have been rescued, including some who were clinging to trees, after a sudden storm on Friday dumped up to 38cm of rain in an area around the Guadalupe River, about 140km northwest of San Antonio. Among the missing were 27 girls from the Camp Mystic summer camp after river waters rapidly rose nine metres, Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said at a press conference on Saturday evening, and there may be others beyond that. 'We are kind of looking at this in two ways called the known missing, which is the 27 ... We will not put a number on the other side because we just don't know,' Rice said. 'We know that the rivers rise, but nobody saw this coming,' said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the top local official in the region. Vehicles are seen after they were washed away along the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. Credit: Julio Cortez / AP Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said eight of the confirmed dead, including three children, had yet to be identified. The US National Weather Service said the flash flood emergency has largely ended for Kerr County, following thunderstorms that dumped more than a 30cm of rain. That is half of the total the region sees in a typical year. A flood watch remained in effect for the broader region. Kerr County sits in the Texas Hill Country, a rural area known for rugged terrain, historic towns and tourist attractions. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said an unknown number of visitors had come to the area for an Independence Day celebration by the river. 'We don't know how many people were in tents on the side, in small trailers by the side, in rented homes by the side,' he said on Fox News Live. Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flood, according to Patrick. Another girls' camp, Heart O' the Hills, said on its website that co-owner Jane Ragsdale had died in the flood but no campers had been present as it was between sessions. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a news briefing that he had asked President Donald Trump to sign a disaster declaration, which would unlock federal aid for those affected. A view inside of a cabin at Camp Mystic, the site of where at least 20 girls went missing after flash flooding in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025. Credit: RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP Earlier on Saturday, Trump said he and his wife Melania were praying for the victims. 'Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best,' he said on social media. Trump has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves. Videos posted online showed bare concrete platforms where homes used to stand and piles of rubble along the banks of the river. Rescuers plucked residents from rooftops and trees, sometimes forming human chains to fetch people from the floodwater, local media reported. Bedding items are seen outside sleeping quarters at Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River. Credit: Julio Cortez / AP Local officials said the extreme flooding struck before dawn on Friday with little or no warning, precluding authorities from issuing advance evacuation orders as the Guadalupe River swiftly rose above major flood stage in less than two hours. The US administration has cut thousands of jobs from the National Weather Service's parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leaving many weather offices understaffed, said former NOAA director Rick Spinrad. He said he did not know if those staff cuts factored into the lack of advance warning for the extreme Texas flooding, but said they would inevitably degrade the agency's ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts. 'People's ability to prepare for these storms will be compromised. It undoubtedly means that additional lives will be lost and probably more property damage,' he said.

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