Over 100 people feared dead in catastrophic flooding across Texas, with search efforts still ongoing. Among the dead were at least 27 girls and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River, which was hit during the July 4th holiday weekend. Rescue teams, including helicopters, boats, dogs, and nearly 1,750 personnel, are working to find those still missing. Governor Greg Abbott warned of ongoing flood risks as rains continue to fall on already saturated ground, saying, “There is still a threat of heavy rain with the potential to cause flooding.”
President Donald Trump, who called the disaster a “100-year catastrophe that nobody expected,” confirmed plans to visit Texas. The White House pushed back against accusations that his administration’s budget cuts to weather services had compromised early warnings. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie,” emphasizing that the National Weather Service provided “timely and precise forecasts and warnings.”
Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River runs, was the worst affected, with 84 deaths, including 28 children. Witnesses described the horror as floodwaters reached rooftops and treetops while the girls were asleep. Personal belongings were found covered in mud, and some cabins had shattered windows due to the water’s force. Volunteers, many with personal ties to the victims, joined the search. “The last message they got was ‘We’re being washed away,’ and the phone went dead,” said Louis Deppe, helping the parents of two missing children.
Many Texans are now questioning the lack of a more effective flood alert system in the region, often called “Flash Flood Alley” for its frequent and sudden downpours. Nicole Wilson, a mother from San Antonio, launched a petition urging the governor to approve a modern warning network, saying, “Five minutes of that siren going off could have saved every single one of those children.” At a vigil in San Antonio, residents mourned and called for change. “Hopefully there’s preventative efforts happening in similar areas,” said Rebeca Gutierrez
