Texas: The death toll from the catastrophic flooding in Texas has reached past 100, with rescue teams still searching for those missing in the heavy downpour.
President Donald Trump described the floods as a "100-year catastrophe," which struck in the early hours of Friday, July 4, leaving behind destruction, shattered families and rising questions about the state's flood preparedness.
Youth Camp Tragedy
Among the victims were 27 young girls and camp counsellors who were swept away at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp that was housing 750 people along the Guadalupe River during the Fourth of July weekend.
Kerr County was the worst-hit, recording at least 84 of the 104 confirmed deaths, including 28 children. In haunting scenes, floodwaters reached the treetops and cabin roofs, destroying windows and leaving blankets and toys caked in mud. Volunteers, many with personal ties to the victims, are combing through the debris.
Louis Deppe, a local volunteer, told AFP, “We’re helping the parents of two of the missing children. The last message they got was ‘We’re being washed away,’ and the phone went dead.”
The river rose over 26 feet in just 45 minutes, submerging buildings and overwhelming the area with terrifying speed.
Anger Builds Over Warnings and Response
As helicopters, boats, dogs and nearly 1,750 personnel continue recovery efforts, state and federal officials face mounting public pressure. Some residents are questioning why more effective early warning systems weren’t in place, especially in a region dubbed "Flash Flood Alley" due to frequent deluges.
Nicole Wilson, a mother who nearly sent her daughters to Camp Mystic, launched a petition urging Governor Greg Abbott to install a modern flood warning system. “Five minutes of that siren going off could have saved every single one of those children,” she told AFP.
Governor Abbott also acknowledged the continuing threat, warning of further flooding on already saturated ground. Meanwhile, President Trump, who is scheduled to visit Texas on Friday, has issued a major disaster declaration to unlock federal aid.
