Texas floods: Camp Mystic says 27 children and staff dead
Officials have said the death toll is sure to rise, with the risk of life-threatening flooding still high in central Texas and more rain on the way.
What did the summer camp say?
"Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counsellors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River,' the camp said in a statement.
"We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls."
"We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from [the] community, first responders, and officials at every level."
What do we know about the flooding?
Swollen by predawn torrential downpours, the Guadalupe River turned into a deadly torrent in less than an hour, cutting through the heart of the town of Kerrville.
Most of the deaths from Friday's devastating flash floods were concentrated along Kerrville's riverfront where 68 people were killed including 28 children, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said.
Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian girls' summer retreat on the banks of the Guadalupe, was among the worst-hit sites.
The waters reached treetops and the roofs of cabins as girls slept overnight Friday, washing away some children and leaving a scene of devastation.
What might happen now?
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned on Sunday that slow-moving thunderstorms could unleash more flash floods on the already-soaked heart of Texas.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott said the heavy rain might "lead to potential flash flooding" in Kerrville and nearby towns, urging residents to steer clear of the swollen river and creeks.
Pressed on Sunday about whether federal budget cuts had weakened the disaster response or left key posts vacant at the NWS under his watch, Trump pushed back.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA and NOAA, admitted that a "moderate" flood watch issued Thursday by the NWS hadn't captured the brutal scale of the downpour. She insisted the Trump administration was working to modernize the system.
Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from Texas, told CNN's "State of the Union" that short-staffing the weather service could spell danger.
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Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
US: Over 100 dead in Texas floods as rescue ops continue amid improving weather
Texas: More than 100 people have lost their lives due to catastrophic flooding across central Texas in the US, with state authorities continuing rescue operations as drier weather is forecast for the coming days, as reported by CNN on Tuesday. As per CNN, among the most heavily impacted areas is Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp located along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, with 27 confirmed deaths of campers and counsellors in the floods, while 10 campers and one counsellor remain unaccounted for. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported that a total of 75 people have died in the county--48 adults and 27 children. Many of the child victims were attending Camp Mystic at the time of the disaster. Search efforts are ongoing, with 24 individuals still missing across the state, CNN reported. In Travis County, which includes the capital city of Austin, seven fatalities have been reported and ten others are missing, CNN reported, citing local officials. In Williamson County, Sheriff Matthew Lindemann confirmed that two people have died in the area and stated that one of the victims was recovered on Sunday (local time). Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated today that over 20 state agencies are actively involved in the emergency response, working around the clock to locate survivors and assess the full extent of the damage. Meanwhile, officials from the National Weather Service expect that the severe weather pattern will ease by Monday night (local time), bringing a significant reduction in rainfall. While some scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible on Tuesday afternoon, they are not expected to pose a major flood threat, CNN reported. The drier conditions are forecast to continue through the end of the week, offering some relief to flood-stricken regions.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
Texas floods: Camp Mystic says 27 children and staff dead
Texas: The summer camp hit by flash floods in Texas said on Monday that 27 campers and counselors had died, while state officials put the overall death toll from the disaster at more than 80. Officials have said the death toll is sure to rise, with the risk of life-threatening flooding still high in central Texas and more rain on the way. What did the summer camp say? "Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counsellors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River,' the camp said in a statement. "We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls." "We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from [the] community, first responders, and officials at every level." What do we know about the flooding? Swollen by predawn torrential downpours, the Guadalupe River turned into a deadly torrent in less than an hour, cutting through the heart of the town of Kerrville. Most of the deaths from Friday's devastating flash floods were concentrated along Kerrville's riverfront where 68 people were killed including 28 children, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said. Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian girls' summer retreat on the banks of the Guadalupe, was among the worst-hit sites. The waters reached treetops and the roofs of cabins as girls slept overnight Friday, washing away some children and leaving a scene of devastation. What might happen now? The National Weather Service (NWS) warned on Sunday that slow-moving thunderstorms could unleash more flash floods on the already-soaked heart of Texas. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott said the heavy rain might "lead to potential flash flooding" in Kerrville and nearby towns, urging residents to steer clear of the swollen river and creeks. Pressed on Sunday about whether federal budget cuts had weakened the disaster response or left key posts vacant at the NWS under his watch, Trump pushed back. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA and NOAA, admitted that a "moderate" flood watch issued Thursday by the NWS hadn't captured the brutal scale of the downpour. She insisted the Trump administration was working to modernize the system. Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from Texas, told CNN's "State of the Union" that short-staffing the weather service could spell danger.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
Oman extends condolences to U.S. over Texas flood tragedy
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has extended its heartfelt condolences to the United States of America following the devastating floods that struck the state of Texas. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oman expressed its sympathy to the government and people of the U.S., as well as to the families of the victims affected by the disaster. 'The Ministry of Foreign expresses the Sultanate of Oman's condolences and sympathy to the government and people of the United States of America and to the families of the victims of the devastating floods that swept through the state of Texas, claiming the lives of dozens,' the statement read. 'It also offers sincere wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.'
