Texas authorities are working around the clock to locate the dozens of missing individuals in the central part of the state after massive rains and floods that have already claimed the lives of at least 79 people, 21 of them children, according to the latest report from local authorities.
The images, after several days of precipitation, show completely devastated areas covered in water. This includes the grounds of Mystic Camp, achildren's camp along the Guadalupe River, which overflowed, where up to 750 girls were spending several summer days. Officials have announced that at least 10 of the girls are still missing.
Larry Leitha Jr., sheriff of Kerr County, one of the most affected by the disaster, announced in a press conference that in his jurisdiction, 68 deceased individuals have been located, of which 40 are adults and 28 are children. Among these 68, there are 18 unidentified adults, as well as 10 of the children. In addition to these deaths, there are 11 others in other counties: 3 in Burnet, 2 in Kendall, 1 in Williamson, 1 in Tom Green, and 4 in Travis.
Among the nearly 750 children attending a Christian summer camp for girls on the banks of the Guadalupe River, the number of missing individuals has now risen to 10 girls and one counselor.
"Texas is providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, and the entire Texas Hill Country to address these devastating floods. I urge Texans to follow the instructions of state and local authorities and to pay attention to local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas," warned Governor Greg Abbott during a press conference on Friday night.
President Donald Trump has signed a declaration of emergency due to a natural disaster this Sunday. "These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, many lives have been lost, and many more are still missing," wrote the president on his Truth platform account, announcing the decision.
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 the 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 late-night briefing by Major General Thomas M. Suelzer. Nim Kidd, head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, also admitted 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, there are areas completely submerged in water. Others have lost roads, electricity poles, and communications, making it very difficult to locate those affected. The Secretary of Homeland Security in the Donald Trump administration, Kristi Noem, has mobilized the United States Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist in locating the missing individuals. "The floods are terrible. 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 eyes of the country are 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 resulted in dozens of deaths, 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 to those that caused the Friday floods in central Texas are expected to continue, perhaps beyond the weekend, a time of many displacements coinciding with 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 points of up to 25 cm in some areas that are already recovering from the devastating floods.