At Least 24 Dead, 25 Children Missing in ‘Terrible’ Texas Floods
Tragedy struck the state of Texas on Independence Day after flash floods claimed the lives of at least 24 people, with up to 25 children still unaccounted for. The disaster unfolded rapidly, with the Guadalupe River in Kerr County rising an astonishing 26 feet in just 45 minutes, leading to widespread destruction and heartbreak.
US President Donald Trump described the incident as “shocking” and “terrible,” while Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that federal resources have been mobilized to assist in rescue and recovery operations. Overnight search and rescue efforts have continued, although authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of people missing.
Among those feared missing are girls from a summer camp near the flooded riverbanks. Wardens from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department managed to reach Camp Mystic, where more than 20 children remain unaccounted for due to communication outages in the area.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick noted that despite the devastating impact, not all of the missing are presumed lost. “That does not mean [the missing children] have been lost. They could be out of communication,” he said, urging calm among families.
More than 400-500 personnel have been deployed, including 14 helicopters, 12 drones, nine rescue teams, and trained swimmers. Texas Maj Gen Thomas Suelzer said high-profile tactical military vehicles have also been used to evacuate residents stranded in high-water zones. So far, 237 people have been rescued.
Kerr County officials admitted there was no warning system in place, making early evacuation impossible. County Judge Rob Kelly, under pressure at a Friday press briefing, explained, “We didn’t know this flood was coming… we do not have a warning system.” He described the floods as worse than the infamous 1987 tragedy that killed 10 teenagers.
Locals have taken to social media, especially the Kerrville Breaking News Facebook group, to search for missing loved ones. Posts poured in from residents desperately seeking contact with family members, including a mother looking for her daughter and son-in-law, and a woman in Austin unable to reach her grandparents.
The floods were triggered by several months’ worth of rain falling within just a few hours, overwhelming rivers and creeks across the Hill Country and Concho Valley regions. Photographs captured fast-moving waters sweeping over bridges and surging through neighborhoods.
Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring echoed the lack of preparedness, saying there was no indication the floods would be so severe.
Meanwhile, unrelated storms in New Jersey killed three people, including a 79-year-old man and a 25-year-old man struck by a falling tree in Plainfield, and a 44-year-old woman in North Plainfield.
Texans are urged to avoid flooded roads, stay alert, and heed local emergency warnings. “Please don’t take chances,” warned Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. “Move to higher ground and wait for instructions from emergency services.”
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At Least 24 Dead, 25 Children Missing in ‘Terrible’ Texas Floods