Trump tells flooded Texas DHS help is on the way as search continues
"Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best," Trump said. "GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!"
At least 18 adults and nine children have been confirmed dead in the flooding that began Wednesday, including some who have not been identified, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a Saturday morning news conference.
More: At least 27 dead in Texas flooding; over two dozen campers missing from Camp Mystic
Authorities have recovered 850 uninjured people and eight injured people as well, said Leitha, who stressed those numbers could rise. "We are working hard to locate anyone who is still missing and to ensure they're safe," Leitha said.
Vice President JD Vance also said Saturday that "our nation's heart breaks for the victims in Texas and their families. ... I hope everyone affected knows they're in the prayers of my family, and of millions of Americans."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Texas floods summer camp miracle as two girls found alive 'clinging to tree'
The children have been rescued between Comfort and Homillus Road in Center Point. Two girls who were missing after devastating floods in Texas have been found alive, clinging onto a 30ft tree. Reports suggest that the two children have been rescued between Comfort and Homillus Road in Center Point. Witnesses said the girls were found as teams recovered four bodies from the area. It comes as there have been at least 59 confirmed deaths in the area. Among Kerr Country's confirmed dead are at least 21 children. The missing girls were from Camp Mystic, a riverside Christian camp in Hunt. As reported in the Mirror, the destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8m) on the river in only 45 minutes before daybreak on Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as flash flood watches remained in effect and more rain fell in central Texas on Sunday. Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. Officials said more than 850 people were rescued in the first 36 hours. President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County today, activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Texas. Trump said: "These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing." Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed that authorities will work around the clock and said new areas were being searched as the water receded. He declared Sunday a day of prayer for the state. He said: "I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday - for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines." In Rome, Pope Leo XIV offered special prayers for those touched by the disaster. History's first American pope spoke in English at the end of his Sunday noon blessing, saying: "I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them."
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
All girls killed in horror floods pictured as time running out for missing kids
At least 70 people, 21 of whom are children, have died in the horrendous flash floods in Texas, with many victims being young girls swept away from the Camp Mystic holiday camp Flash floods swept through Texas on Friday, killing at least 70 people as the US was celebrating Independence Day. The Guadalupe River surged by 30ft above its typical level with racing watering destroying Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Hunt. Several young girls remain missing as a huge rescue effort continues to find those still unaccounted for. Many of the missing girls are younger children who had been sleeping just yards away from the river. They had been sleeping on the low-laying "flats" in the camp's cabins, with the older girls sleeping in cabins on higher grounds. The director of the camp, Richard Eastland, 70, died as he tried to save girls. US President Donald Trump said those affected by the floods were "enduring an unimaginable tragedy." Rescuers reportedly managed to locate two girls who took shelter in a tree, some 30ft up from the ground. They were found as the search effort continues, though time is running out. Authorities insist it is still a rescue operation. Sarah Marsh, 8 Sarah Marsh arrived at Camp Mystic from her home in Alabama and was confirmed by her family to have died in the floods. Her grandmother told The Kerrville Daily Times: "Thank you for the outpouring of love and sympathy! We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives." Eloise Peck, 8, and Lila Bonner, 9 Eloise Peck, from Dallas, Texas, had just finished the second grade at Bradfield Elementary alongside her best friend Lili, who also lost her life in the flood. Her mum, Missy, old Fox 4: "She passed away with her cabinmate and best friend Lila Bonner who also died. Eloise had a family who loved her fiercely for the 8 years she was with us. Especially her Mommy." Lila Bonner had been sharing a cabin at Camp Mystic with her best friend Eloise Peck when the deadly floods hit. Her family told NBC News: "In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time. We ache with all who loved her and are praying endlessly for others to be spared from this tragic loss." Renee Smajstrla, 8 The family of little Renee confirmed in a Facebook post that she was among the victims. Shawn Salta, her uncle, said: "We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic." Janie Hunt, 9 The mum of Janie Hunt told local media that the nine-year-old had been killed after flood water raced through Camp Mystic. She told NBC 5: "We are just devastated." Brooke Harber, 11, and Blair Harber, 13 Brooke Harber was confirmed to have died on July 4, according to her priest Father Joshua J. Whitfield. He said: "Even if we may never fully understand why such tragedies happen, we are called to respond with love, compassion, and prayer." Blair was also killed in the floods with their grandparents while they stayed at a cabin near the Guadalupe River. The girls' parents had been staying at another cabin and are safe. Still missing There are a number of other young girls still missing who's names have not yet emerged. Further risks remain Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott said today Kerr County is under a federal disaster declaration. Mr Abbott repeated his warning about dangers in the next 24 to 48 hours that could pose "public safety threats", with more heavy rain expected. Officials said this could result in even more flash flooding. Affected areas include central Texas and Kerrville. Several other counties in Texas are subject to disaster declaration and need additional resources. Emergency services are working to find the remaining missing people who remain unaccounted for.
North Wales Chronicle
5 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Death toll rises after devastating flooding in central Texas
Dozens of people have been killed since raging floodwaters slammed into central Texas on Friday. The death toll rose to nearly 70 on Sunday after searchers found more more bodies in the hardest-hit Kerr County. The victims include children who were camping along the banks of the Guadalupe River. Officials have said they will not stop searching until every person is found. Besides the 59 dead in Kerr County — 38 adults and 21 children — additional deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet and Kendall counties. Rescuers dealt with broken trees, overturned cars and muck-filled debris in a difficult task to find survivors. Authorities still have not said how many people are missing beyond the children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp where most of the dead were recovered. With each passing hour, the outlook became more bleak. Volunteers and some families of the missing who drove to the disaster zone began searching the riverbanks despite being asked not to do so. Authorities faced growing questions about whether enough warnings were issued in an area vulnerable to flooding and whether enough preparations were made. The destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26ft on the river in only 45 minutes before daybreak on Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as flash flood watches remained in effect and more rain fell in central Texas on Sunday. Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. Officials said more than 850 people were rescued in the first 36 hours. Governor Greg Abbott vowed that authorities will work around the clock and said new areas were being searched as the water receded. He declared Sunday a day of prayer for the state. 'I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday — for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,' he said in a statement. In Rome, Pope Leo XIV offered special prayers for those touched by the disaster. History's first American pope spoke in English at the end of his Sunday noon blessing, saying 'I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them.' The hills along the Guadalupe River are dotted with youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the Independence Day holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing. 'We don't even want to begin to estimate at this time,' Kerrville City manager Dalton Rice said on Saturday. Survivors shared terrifying stories of being swept away and clinging to trees as rampaging floodwaters carried trees and cars past them. Others fled to attics inside their homes, praying the water would not reach them. At Camp Mystic, a cabin full of girls held onto a rope strung by rescuers as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs. Among those confirmed dead were an eight-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was at Camp Mystic, and the director of another camp up the road. Locals know the area as ' flash flood alley' but the flooding in the middle of the night caught many campers and residents by surprise even though there were warnings. The National Weather Service on Thursday advised of potential flooding and then sent out a series of flash flood warnings in the early hours of Friday before issuing flash flood emergencies — a rare alert notifying of imminent danger.
