KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — The risk of life-threatening flooding remains high in central Texas as crews conduct urgent searches for those missing following a devastating deluge over the holiday weekend that has resulted in at least 82 fatalities, including children from summer camps. Authorities have warned that the death toll is expected to rise as more rain is forecasted.
Residents of Kerr County have begun the process of clearing mud and salvaging belongings from their severely damaged homes, sharing chilling accounts of their escapes from rapidly rising floodwaters late Friday. Reagan Brown recounted how his elderly parents narrowly escaped their home in Hunt, Texas, and bravely returned to rescue their 92-year-old neighbor trapped in her attic. Afterward, they and other neighbors found refuge together in a tool shed on higher ground.
In the area, rescue operations are ongoing as emergency crews, facing adverse conditions including snakes, continue their search for the missing, notably 10 girls and a counselor from Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp severely impacted by the flooding. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that 41 people remain unaccounted for statewide, while local officials in Kerr County reported that 68 bodies have been found, comprising 28 children.
Additionally, 10 deaths from the flooding have been recorded in neighboring counties including Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green, and Williamson. Governor Abbott cautioned that more heavy rain could exacerbate the already life-threatening situation, particularly in areas already saturated with water.
Families were permitted to survey the damage at Camp Mystic starting Sunday morning. Devastating scenes emerged as survivors encountered remnants of the camp, with one girl clutching a large bell and another family departing with a blue footlocker. The emotional toll was palpable, as one teenage girl was seen with tears streaming down her face while gazing at the devastation as they drove away.
As heavy machinery worked to clear tree trunks and debris from the affected river, the likelihood of finding more survivors diminished with each passing hour. Despite pleas from authorities requesting that the public refrain from searching, numerous volunteers, including families of the missing, continued to comb through the disaster area.
In the wake of the tragedy, questions have arisen regarding the adequacy of flood warnings issued in an area historically susceptible to flooding and whether proper emergency preparations were conducted. President Donald Trump declared a major disaster for Kerr County, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and expressing his plan to visit the area. He stated, "It’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible."
The governor has pledged that state authorities will tirelessly work on recovery efforts, announcing that new areas would be searched as floodwaters recede. He declared the preceding Sunday a day of prayer for Texas, and Pope Leo XIV offered special prayers from the Vatican, expressing condolences for families affected by the disaster.
Survivors shared harrowing experiences, including tales of being swept away and clinging to trees amid the rampant floodwaters. At Camp Mystic, girls in one cabin clung to a rope thrown by rescuers as they navigated a bridge engulfed in water. Among those confirmed dead was an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was attending camp, alongside the director of another camp in the vicinity. Tragically, two school-age sisters from Dallas are still missing after their cabin was swept away during the flooding.
Despite multiple flood warnings issued ahead of the disaster by the National Weather Service, which included flash flood emergencies, officials admitted that they did not anticipate such a catastrophic downpour that brought rainfall equivalent to several months’ worth for the region. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice assured that a thorough review of the emergency response protocols will take place in response to the disaster.
When questioned about plans to reorganize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Trump indicated that while it remains a topic for future discussion, the immediate focus is on recovery efforts. He asserted that the unexpected nature of the storm complicated preparedness, stating that "nobody expected it." The aftermath of this tragedy underscores the urgent need for effective disaster preparedness and response measures in vulnerable regions.
