Texas authorities are working around the clock this Saturday to try to locate the dozens of missing people -27 of them girls- in the center of the state after massive rains and floods that have already claimed the lives of at least 51 people, 14 of them children, as reported by the police chief, AP informs. The images, after several days of precipitation, show completely devastated areas covered in water. This includes the grounds of Mystic Camp, a children's camp next to the Guadalupe River, which overflowed, where up to 750 girls were spending several summer days. Authorities have announced that at least 25 of the girls remain missing.
"Texas is providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt and the entire Texas Hill Country dealing with these devastating floods. I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas." warned Governor Greg Abbott during a press conference on Friday night.
Rescue efforts are proving to be very challenging. Access is limited, and the rain continues to fall heavily. The intensity caught the meteorological service off guard, and alerts came too late. Hundreds of emergency personnel have been mobilized, including firefighters from across the state, to assist stranded individuals and the families of the missing.
The Texas National Guard has reported over 250 rescues and evacuations using up to 15 helicopters and divers, as explained in a predawn briefing by Major General Thomas M. Suelzer. Nim Kidd, head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, also acknowledged last night that the volume of rain surprised everyone, indicating that the National Weather Service warnings on Thursday "did not predict the amount of rain we saw." "The process will continue," Kidd assured on Saturday afternoon. "We will not stop until we find all the missing individuals."
Although the extent of the damage is yet to be determined, some areas have been completely submerged in water. Others have lost roads, electricity poles, and communications, making it very difficult to locate those affected. The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, has mobilized the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist in locating the missing individuals. "It's terrible. The floods? It's shocking," said President Trump on Friday night aboard Air Force One. "We will take care of them," he said when asked if there would be federal assistance for the tragedy.
The nation's attention is focused on Mystic Camp, a well-known Christian camp with a long tradition of over a century. The current owners have been in charge of activities for over 750 girls at a time since 1974. In 1987, a similar situation with very intense rains and river flooding left dozens dead, including a group of schoolchildren whose bus was swept away in a nearby town.
Although theoretically the worst is over, the weather forecast is not promising. Dangerously similar rains are expected to continue, similar to those that caused the floods on Friday in central Texas and possibly beyond the weekend, a time when many are traveling due to the celebrations of the national holiday on July 4th. The National Weather Service predicts 5 to 13 centimeters of rain in the region with isolated areas of up to 25 cm in some areas that are already recovering from the devastating floods.