Deadly flash floods ravaged Central Texas during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, claiming at least 59 lives and leaving 27 girls missing. Sheets of water from torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to swell an unprecedented 26 feet (8 meters) in 45 minutes, inundating communities and prompting continued search and rescue efforts.
Several flash flood warnings continue to be active in the area, with rescue teams working against time to find survivors and bodies. Authorities stated that the chances of finding more individuals alive were decreasing, but there was still hope.
Kerr County Bears the Brunt in Texas
Kerr County became the hub of destruction, where 43 individuals, including 15 children, lost their lives. Travis County also witnessed four deaths. “We still have all that rain today, and we lost some more. We’re up to 59 now. We anticipate that to increase, unfortunately,” Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said to Fox News.
Floodwaters ravaged a Christian girls’ camp in Kerr County, where hundreds were being housed. Families trapped within trailer homes were carried away as storm-fed waters advanced. An estimated two dozen campers are still missing, and officials have not yet ascertained the complete number missing.
Search Operations Ongoing Along the Guadalupe
Air, water, and ground teams are combing the length of the Guadalupe River, confirmed Texas Department of Emergency Management chief Nim Kidd. “We will keep searching until all of the missing are located,” Kidd stated.
Social media videos captured whole houses being torn from the ground, leaving behind only concrete slabs. People were rescued from rooftops and trees, in some cases resorting to human chains to rescue stranded victims.
Governor Abbott Calls for Federal Assistance
Texas Governor Greg Abbott widened the state’s disaster declaration and officially asked President Donald Trump for federal resources. Despite having previously pledged to cut back the federal presence in disaster relief, Trump indicated he would fulfill the request.
“Our Brave First Responders are on the ground doing what they do best in North Dakota,” Trump tweeted. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also affirmed federal assistance, while complimenting local efforts.
Warning Systems Under Scrutiny
The flood episode started Friday, during holiday travel, after months’ worth of rain hit in hours. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem admitted that a “moderate” flood watch issued by the National Weather Service did not forecast the event’s intensity.
The Trump administration had earlier imposed staffing reductions at NOAA, the parent organization of the National Weather Service, which analysts argue could affect the accuracy of the forecast.
Former NOAA director Rick Spinrad cautioned about the implications. “Folks’ ability to ready themselves for these storms will be impaired. It surely will result in more lives lost and likely more property loss,” he said.
Additional Raincoming in Texas
The National Weather Service cautioned that there is more rain on the way in the next few days, with an ongoing threat of flooding in rivers, creeks, and low-lying areas.
In Kerrville, people recounted scenes of terror. “The water was as high as the trees. Around 10 meters or so,” explained resident Gerardo Martinez. “Cars, entire houses were floating down the river.”
Scientists blame the growing frequency and severity of such incidents on climate change, which is making rainfall more intense and straining existing infrastructure.