Texas Flood Crisis Deepens: 82 Confirmed Dead, More Rain Forecasted

The Texas flood crisis has escalated significantly, with the confirmed death toll rising to 82 individuals, including numerous children . This tragic event is attributed to a severe storm that unleashed an unprecedented amount of rainfall in a short time frame, leading to catastrophic flash floods primarily in the Kerrville area. Local authorities are currently engaged in search and rescue operations, as dozens remain unaccounted for amidst concerns that further rainfall could exacerbate the situation .

Group texts have flown with rumors about girls who were found and girls still missing. They exchanged phone numbers, stories and prayers.

And still, as of Sunday morning, more than two days after the Guadalupe River surged over its banks in the predawn darkness of July 4, 11 girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian camp in Central Texas, remained missing, along with one counselor from the camp.

The wait has been agonizing for Camp Mystic’s tight-knit community of parents and alumni, connected to a children’s retreat where Texas Monthly said three generations of descendants of Lyndon Johnson had gone, and where Laura Bush once served as a counselor. One of the young girls who has been confirmed by her family to have died in the flooding is Janie Hunt, a scion of the Hunt oil fortune.

Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches and isolated amounts of up to 10 inches could occur in the watch advisory area, which includes Austin, San Antonio, Kerrville and other surrounding areas, the weather service advised in a post on X early Monday.

Earlier on Sunday, President Trump granted Mr. Abbott’s request for a federal disaster declaration, directing federal assistance to the affected areas. State and local officials have urged people not to go out to conduct search-and-rescue operations and have asked people not to use personal drones over affected areas.

At Camp Mystic on Friday, Mr. Ruskan shuttled campers to the helicopters that would lift them to safety — sometimes carrying two girls in one arm. As he took some evacuees away, he assured the others that he would come back for them.

Amidst this unfolding disaster, questions regarding emergency preparedness and evacuation protocols have emerged. Specifically, officials have faced scrutiny over their response times and the effectiveness of flood warnings issued prior to the disaster . As President Trump considers a visit to assess the damage firsthand and FEMA deploys additional resources for relief efforts, it is crucial for local governance structures to reflect on their strategies in mitigating such natural disasters moving forward.

Read more

Sara H

Also on site :

• New Leak Hints at Bold Design Shift for iPhone 17 Pro Max
• Porsche 911 Club Coupe marks Porsche Club of America's 70th anniversary
• Liverpool to Honor Diogo Jota’s $20M Contract by Paying His Widow