In the Lone Star state of Texas, the death toll from the devastating floods over the July Fourth holiday has soared past 100, a situation that is nothing to sneeze at. Despite the deluge, search-and-rescue teams are trudging through swollen rivers and using heavy equipment to unravel trees in the immense quest for missing people.
Authorities managing the search for flood victims are standing by to address inquiries about weather warnings and the lack of evacuations from some summer camps before the deadly flooding that has claimed a minimum of 104 lives. The officials talked only a few hours after Camp Mystic, a time-honored all-girls Christian summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, revealed that they mourn the loss of 27 campers and counselors to the floodwaters. Even now, 10 campers and a counselor remain unaccounted for, according to Kerr County officials.
In the county where Camp Mystic sits, along with numerous other summer camps, searchers have discovered the bodies of 84 individuals, including 28 children. With more rain in the forecast, the looming threat of further flooding still hangs over saturated parts of central Texas. Authorities have warned that the death toll is bound to climb.
The furious flash floods, ranking among the worst in the nation in decades, crashed into camps and homes lining the Guadalupe River before dawn on Friday, snatching unsuspecting individuals from their cabins, tents, and trailers and carrying them for miles past drifting tree trunks and vehicles. Some fortunate survivors were found gripping onto trees for dear life.
On Monday, the riverbanks were strewn with mangled trees adorned with mattresses, fridges, and coolers. Amidst the debris lay remnants of what attracted so many to the campgrounds in the Hill Country: a volleyball, canoes, and a family portrait. Meanwhile, 19 fatalities were reported in various counties like Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green, and Williamson.
Among the deceased were two 8-year-old sisters from Dallas who were staying at Camp Mystic, as well as a former soccer coach and his spouse who were residing in a riverfront home. Regrettably, their daughters are still missing.
Authorities are now under pressure to determine why some camps didn’t heed the warnings and evacuate to safer grounds in an area notoriously prone to flooding, dubbed “flash flood alley” by some locals. This will entail an investigation into the dissemination and reception of weather alerts. A challenge that arises is the poor cellphone coverage in many camp areas, as noted by Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice.
While some camps were proactive in recognizing the risks and monitoring the weather, not all took the necessary precautions. Despite recent cuts in government spending, Sen. Ted Cruz emphasized that they did not impact the warnings issued by FEMA and the National Weather Service. He stressed the importance of unity in the face of tragedy and saving political disagreements for another day.
The National Weather Service had issued warnings about potential flooding on Thursday and escalated to flash flood emergencies
Officials were left in shock by the unexpected deluge, which poured down with the force of countless rainy days. Some locals claimed they were kept in the dark, receiving nary a hint of the impending disaster.
Despite his plans to visit the devastated state, President Donald Trump declared that he would not rehire any of the ousted federal meteorologists. “In the blink of an eye, this event unfolded. It caught everyone off guard,” remarked the president.
Despite White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s claims that weather services gave ample notice, the truth is up for debate.
In the search for missing individuals, there could be more lost souls out there, warned Gov. Greg Abbott, with over thirty unaccounted for in various parts of the state.
With more than 1,000 volunteers mobilized to aid Kerr County, search-and-rescue teams have their work cut out.
In a bizarre turn of events, Kerrville city officials made a plea to drone operators to cease flying over the area after an unauthorized drone collided with an emergency helicopter, prompting an unscheduled landing.
Escaping the floods proved to be a race against time for many, including Reagan Brown’s elderly parents who narrowly avoided disaster. In a twist of fate, they ended up rescuing their elderly neighbor, all while taking refuge in a tool shed with other neighbors.
Elizabeth Lester shared a harrowing tale of her children’s escape from the floodwaters, with her son swimming out of a cabin window and her daughter fleeing uphill as the waters raged.
From various corners of the country, a team of Associated Press writers contributed to this report, painting a comprehensive picture of the unfolding tragedy.
