
Texas flood recovery: Summer camp reopens after community cleanup
Ken Kaiser, director of facility operations, said according to The Guardian, 'Our campers will be able to enjoy our riverfront activities much sooner now. In the midst of heartache, we got to see the best of humanity through these volunteers who came from all over Texas and beyond.'
The cleanup started with a Facebook call from Austin real estate agent Cord Shiflet on July 8, seeking 'money, manpower, and machines.' By the next day, 250 volunteers showed up, and the number doubled soon after. Volunteers worked in mud and heat, using excavators and chainsaws to clear debris and repair waterfront areas and damaged facilities.
Located on 55 acres along the Guadalupe River, Camp Camp hosts over 800 campers each summer, providing activities like horseback riding, swimming, sports, and archery. Each camper receives a counselor to meet their needs. According to The Guardian, the camp has served children and adults with disabilities for 46 years.
The flash floods, beginning on July 4, have claimed at least 135 lives, with over 150 still missing, as per The Guardian. The Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Preliminary economic losses could reach $18 to $22 billion, making this one of the worst natural disasters in Texas history.
Governor Greg Abbott has promised legislative debate on improving Texas's flood warning systems but offered no firm commitments.
(With inputs from The Guardian)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
National Parents Day 2025: Psychiatrist reveals ways for parents and children to understand each other better and bond
National Parents Day 2025: This year, July 27 marks National Parents Day. It is observed to celebrate the constant love, support, and guidance that parents offer throughout their children's lives. On this occasion, let's take a closer look at how parents and children can understand each other and communicate better. Better communication between parents and children helps in reducing conflicts and understanding each other better. (Shutterstock) ALSO READ: Happy National Parents' Day 2025 wishes: 70+ messages, greetings, images, WhatsApp and Facebook status to share Often, parents and children aren't on the same page. From loudly slamming doors to frustrated yelling of 'Why don't you get me?', the gap between generations can sometimes feel too wide to bridge. While both children and parents navigate their own problems in life, they often turn a blind eye to each other's struggles, unintentionally widening the emotional distance. This is why a powerful way to make a supportive environment at home is to understand each other's perspectives. HT Lifestyle reached out to a psychiatrist to explore how parents and children can understand each other. Understanding each other's perspectives Understanding each other creates a cooperative environment at home.(Shutterstock) Dr Ajit Dandekar, head of mental health (psychiatry and psychology) at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital in Mumbai, shared three behavioural approaches for parents. He said, 'Keep it simple, start with respect, aim for understanding before instructions, and focus on effort rather than criticism. Those three shifts alone can transform everyday conversations at home.' What can parents do to understand their children better? Further, Dr Dandekar listed six things parents can do to understand their children better, covering all the essentials, from conversation hacks to emotional regulation: Listen to decode, not to dismiss: Children rarely say things 'straight,' their feelings are often wrapped in stories or behaviour. Reflect back what you hear ('It sounds like you're really frustrated about…') so they feel seen, not judged. Validate feelings before giving advice: Start with, 'I get why that hurt/was scary' before you instruct or correct. Validation lowers emotional intensity and opens the door to problem-solving. Use an 'emotional mirror': Name the emotion you observe—'You seem angry and let down'—without lecturing. Accurate reflection helps children identify, regulate, and eventually change their own responses. Avoid comparisons, blaming and labels: Comparing siblings, calling a child 'lazy', or stonewalling shuts communication down. Praise effort, strategies and progress, not personality traits—this builds resilience and a growth mindset. Co-create boundaries and routines: Invite children to help set a few clear rules and predictable routines. Shared ownership increases cooperation and reduces daily power struggles. Repair quickly after ruptures: If you've overreacted, apologise and restate the goal calmly. Modelling accountability teaches children how to repair relationships, too. Be curious, not controlling: Ask open questions ('What made today tough?') instead of rapid-fire instructions. Curiosity communicates respect and keeps the conversation two-way, not two parallel monologues. What can children do to understand their parents better? It's easy to blame parents and say 'they just don't get it', but they are human too. Commonly, children see them only through the lens of their role as 'parents,' forgetting they, too, have their own pressures and emotions. Understanding goes both ways. Dr Dandekar listed out three things for children to understand their parents' pov: Acknowledge effort and limits: Parents juggle finances, work, and care. Noticing their effort ('Thanks for trying to make time today') softens conflict and builds mutual empathy. Say what you feel and what you need: Use clear 'I' statements—'I felt ignored when…' and 'I need 10 minutes to explain…'—instead of withdrawing or shouting. Join the solution: Offer ideas, accept reasonable boundaries and follow agreed-upon routines. Collaboration shows maturity and earns trust. Keeping indoors clean and safe An unwashed pillowcase carries a lot of germs and bacteria.(Shutterstock) The physical environment also shapes mood in more ways than one. So while emotional connection is the foundation of a healthy parent-child relationship, it's equally important for parents to ensure that children are comfortable and in a safe, clean space. Weighing in on this, Nathan Lawson McLean, Design Engineer at Dyson, shared the importance of a cleaning routine and maintaining a safe indoor air quality. 'Many parents assume that staying indoors protects their families from pollution, but indoor air can often be more polluted than outdoor air due to sources like cooking, cleaning agents, furniture, and even dust mites,' Nathan explained. 'Areas such as mattresses, pillows, curtains, fabric covers, and soft toys are frequently overlooked during cleaning, yet they can harbour dust, allergens, bacteria, and even microscopic particles that linger for months." Nathan further quoted a recent study, which revealed that an unwashed pillowcase, when left unwashed for even just a week, can collect millions of bacteria, becoming a significant risk to children's health and overall well-being. To prevent the risk of falling sick, Nathan suggested, 'Regular vacuuming of these surfaces, especially mattresses and other high-contact areas, is essential to minimise exposure to harmful particles. Pairing this with proper ventilation helps reduce the buildup of pollutants and ensures fresher, cleaner air for your little ones. Babies spend so much of their time sleeping, and creating a serene, clean sleep environment not only supports their growth and development but also provides peace of mind for parents." Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.


New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Europe-bound migrant boat capsizes off the Libyan coast, leaving at least 15 people dead
CAIRO: A migrant boat capsized early Friday off the coast of Libya, leaving at least 15 Egyptians dead, according to Libyan officials. The boat was bound for Europe and was carrying dozens when it capsized around 2 a.m. near the eastern Libyan town of Tobruk, according to Marwan al-Shaeri, the media spokesperson of general administration of the coast guard in Tobruk. Al-Shaeri confirmed that all those known to have died were Egyptian nationals. The crews were able to rescue two Sudanese crewmembers, but a third is still missing. He told The Associated Press that the sea is not suitable for any sailing activity but couldn't say why the boat capsized. It was unclear how many people were still missing. Local aid group Abreen, which tracks migrant activity, said early Friday afternoon on Facebook that 10 people survived the incident. Libya is a dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. Drowning incidents near the country's coast have been common. In December, at least 61 migrants, including women and children, drowned off the town of Zuwara on Libya's western coast. According to the missing migrants project run by the International Organization for Migration, at least 434 migrants have been reported dead and 611 missing off Libya in the past eight months. More than 14,100 migrants were intercepted and returned to the chaos-stricken country. Libya was plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.


The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
On significant events on July 25
Daily Quiz | Significant events on July 25 Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit YOUR SCORE 0 /5 RETAKE THE QUIZ 1 / 5 | On this day in 2007, a woman was sworn in to this top post in the country. She was the first woman to hold the post. After herm, only one other woman has held the post. Identify the person. DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Pratibha patil SHOW ANSWER 2 / 5 | World Embryologist Day is celebrated every year on July 25 to mark the progress in fertility and reproductive medicine. Why is it celebrated on July 25? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : To mark the birth of the world's first test tube baby SHOW ANSWER 3 / 5 | On this day in 1984, this woman astronaut became the first woman to perform this activity in space. Identify the astronaut and the activity. DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya and space walk SHOW ANSWER 4 / 5 | Air France flight 4590 crashed on this day in 2000, killing all aboard and four others on the ground. Where did the incident occur? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Paris SHOW ANSWER