Texas Floods Claim 67 Lives, with 21 Children Among Victims

• Death toll is anticipated to rise.
• 11 girls and a counselor still missing from summer camp.
• Total number of missing individuals remains unclear.

The toll from devastating floods in Texas has climbed to at least 67 as of Sunday, with 21 of those confirmed to be children. The search for girls missing from a summer camp is now in its third day.

Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in the Texas Hill Country, confirmed that Kerr County alone has recorded 59 fatalities, including the 21 children.

According to Leitha, 11 girls and a counselor are still unaccounted for at a nearby summer camp along the Guadalupe River, which overflowed after heavy rain struck central Texas on July 4, coinciding with Independence Day.

A Travis County official reported that four lives were lost to the flooding there, with 13 individuals still unaccounted for. Additionally, one death occurred in Kendall County, while the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office reported two fatalities. In Tom Green County, police discovered a woman dead inside her submerged vehicle in San Angelo.

Leitha mentioned that there are also 18 adults and four children pending identification in Kerr County, but it’s not clear if these individuals are part of the 59 confirmed deaths.

Officials indicated that more than 850 people have been rescued, including some who were hanging onto trees, after a sudden storm unleashed up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain in the region, which is located about 85 miles (140 km) northwest of San Antonio. The total number of missing persons in the area remains uncertain.

“Everyone in the community is feeling the pain,” stated Leitha during a press conference.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was activated on Sunday, deploying resources to support first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in the area, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.

Helicopters and planes from the United States Coast Guard are assisting in search and rescue operations, as reported by DHS.

Some experts have raised concerns about whether cuts made to federal agencies under the Trump administration, including reductions at the agency responsible for the National Weather Service, impacted the accuracy of flood predictions and warnings prior to the storm.

Former NOAA Director Rick Spinrad noted that the Trump administration’s job cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had left many weather offices understaffed. He expressed uncertainty about the impact of these cuts on the flood warnings but acknowledged they can affect the agency’s ability to provide timely and accurate forecasts.

Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, pointed out that a “moderate” flood watch issued by the National Weather Service on Thursday did not accurately forecast the heavy rainfall, but added that the Trump administration is working to improve the alert system.

The White House has not responded to requests for comments on these issues.

Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro mentioned on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ that reduced personnel at the weather service could lead to dangerous situations. “Flash flooding poses a serious risk, and without enough personnel to conduct proper analysis and predictions, it can end in tragedy,” he warned.

More Rain on the Way

Additional rain is anticipated in the area on Sunday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flood watch for Kerr County until 1 PM local time.

The disaster escalated quickly on Friday morning as rainfall exceeded predictions, causing river levels to swell to as high as 29 feet (9 meters).

Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested a disaster declaration from Trump to access federal assistance for those impacted by the floods. Noem confirmed that Trump would fulfill this request.

Trump has previously indicated plans to reduce the federal government’s role in responding to natural disasters, thereby increasing state-level responsibilities.

The 11 missing girls along with their counselor attended Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian camp for girls, which had 700 campers present at the time of the flood.

In the aftermath, the camp was left in ruins. Inside one cabin, mud marks showed that floodwaters had risen at least six feet (1.83 m) from the ground. Bed frames, mattresses, and personal belongings were littered with mud. Some buildings suffered broken windows, while one cabin had a wall completely missing.