Live updates: Search and rescue underway after 24 killed and up to 25 girls missing in Texas flooding
President Donald Trump described the flooding as 'a terrible thing.'
'It's terrible. The floods? It's shocking,' he told reporters Friday evening on Air Force One. 'They don't know the answer yet as to how many people but it looks like some young people have died.'
When asked about federal aid, he said: 'Oh yeah, we'll take care of them. We're working with the governor.'
Heavy rain over Central Texas turned catastrophic in Friday's early hours, as months of rainfall came down swiftly. Flooding rains in and around Kerr County had brought a widespread 10 to 15 total inches by Friday morning, in an area west of Austin and northwest of San Antonio, a region that typically averages 28 to 32 inches of rain in a year. Instead, four months of rainfall came down in four hours.
The death toll from heavy flooding in Central Texas has risen to about 24, Kerr County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha said at a news conference Friday night.
Authorities will continue search and rescue missions throughout the night, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said. More than 20 girls remain unaccounted for after they went missing from Camp Mystic, a summer camp on the Guadalupe River near the city of Kerrville, Leitha said.
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Fox News
28 minutes ago
- Fox News
Texas mother praises brave camp counselors who saved her sons from 'absolutely devastating' floods
Keli Rabon, a mother of two sons who safely escaped flooding at a Texas camp, described the harrowing moment she realized the region's high waters were "far more serious" than she initially believed on "The Story." "Once I saw the statement from Camp Mystic that your daughter is okay if you've not been notified yet, I thought, oh my gosh, this is far more serious than that initial text message [on July 4th] would have led me to believe," Rabon recalled Monday. "And then within a couple of hours, I decided I needed to get in the car and go, you know, a mom on a mission to get to my kids." The mother shared she rushed from Houston to Camp La Junta, where her two sons, ages 7 and 9-years-old, were staying. Their flooded camp is located six miles from Camp Mystic, which currently mourns the loss of 27 campers and counselors. At least 100 total have died from the floods, according to authorities. Rabon attributed her sons' safe evacuation from the flood to their camp counselors' bravery. "As the water started to come in, his brave camp counselors, who are really just kids themselves – college kids – they encouraged the boys to get on the first bunk, then to get on the second bunk," she relayed. "Then, before you know it, they were lifting the little boys up into the rafters to keep them out of harm's way." Rabon described her 7-year-old as still being in a "state of shock," adding that he remembers the water being high enough to break the window. "I just can't imagine how terrifying this was," Rabon shared. "And it was happening, you know, as it was dark. No power, you're so unfamiliar in this situation. How do you ever prepare for that?" A childhood attendee of Hill Country camps herself, the mother addressed whether she would ever send her sons to camp again. "I need to think it through, but I can tell you that Brayden, my older one, with two summers of camp under his belt, says in a heartbeat he would go back," Rabon admitted. Her sons said they are comfortable with her discussing such a distressing situation because they want to "represent the pride" they have in Camp La Junta, Rabon added. In Kerr County, the Guadalupe River rose more than 25 feet within an hour, state officials report. President Donald Trump has declared the region's flash flooding a "100-year catastrophe" and plans to visit Hill Country on Friday.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
4 dead, 2 missing in Burnet County flooding; Volunteer fire chief still missing
AUSTIN (KXAN) — An additional death has been confirmed in Burnet County, bringing the total to four, officials said in a press conference this afternoon. The Burnet County Sheriff's Office is still actively searching for two more people that remain missing. One of the missing people is Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Phillips. Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd said Monday they found his vehicle and personal items through drones and on-the-ground efforts. Boyd previously said Phillips went missing while attempting a rescue near FM 1174 at Cow Creek. The other person missing is a man from the Burnet area. His vehicle was also found. Names are not being released at this point. Boyd said that the Burnet County has rescued 62 people so far. 'Anywhere from people that were stranded in their attics, to people in trees or on the top of their vehicles,' Boyd said. The humidity and heat is causing search and rescue responders to be changed every couple hours, according to Boyd. With all the debris that the flood brought downstream, helicopters are being used to drop off the responders. This morning's rain kept responders away from some of the low-lying areas out of precaution, according to Boyd. It also added new road closures to the map. 'We didn't want to take a chance with any of our folks who are out there working hard,' he said. The search hasn't changed a lot since operations in Burnet County swung into full effect Saturday. With some of the low-level crossings in the midst of repair, Boyd said that the option for vehicles to drive in will change the search plan. Once the terrain becomes less drenched with water, horses and ATVs will be employed. Currently, foot, dog and drone searches are primarily being used. 'I would love to wrap it up today, but it just depends on how long it takes to find these individuals,' Boyd said. 'We are committed to finding these folks. We want to find them.' SUNDAY LIVE BLOG: Rescue efforts continue in Central Texas after 'catastrophic' flash flooding According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a Flash Flood emergency was put into effect for Burnet County shortly after 5 a.m. NWS said that 5-12' of rain occurred, with an additional 2-5″ possible. 'This is a Particularly Dangerous Situation with life-threatening flash flooding. Seek higher ground if near a flooded creek or stream,' NWS said. Operations in Burnet County were in full effect Saturday, with nearly 20 water rescues underway as flood waters moved through Central Texas. According to the Burnet County Office of Emergency Management (BCOEM), first responders were working 19 different water rescues in the area. In an update, BCOEM confirmed a firefighter was swept away during a rescue. As of 11:36 a.m., the office said crews were attempting to find them. 'All these issues are being handled based on situational urgency,' BCOEM said. 'All agencies within Burnet County are all coordinating these rescues.' The office said several roadways in the area were inaccessible. Those roadways included: Highway 29 to Hamilton Creek Between Burnet and Bertram Highway 281 North (approximately at County Rd 108) Highway 281 at Park Rd 4 1174 to 1431 1431 at Cow Creek Rd. Numerous other county roads 'We are urging everyone to stay home to avoid these high-water dangers. People have already been rescued from trees and cars, several have also called in with high or rising water near their homes,' BCOEM said. The city of Burnet said those affected by flooding or in need of a safe place to go, the Burnet Community Center, located at 401 East Jackson Street, was open for evacuations. In an update Saturday night, BCSO said emergency responders performed more than 50 rescues. Those operations were suspended Saturday night and continued Sunday morning. BCSO Captain Mike Sorenson confirmed that three people died. One of the missing persons included Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Phillips. Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd said Phillips went missing while attempting a rescue near FM 1174 at Cow Creek. 'If you can stay home, don't travel. Everyone wants to go out and look at the high water and the wreckage but we ask you to stay home at this point,' said Boyd on Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
7 dead as search operations continue after devastating floods in Travis County
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Seven people have died and 10 are missing following a weekend of rain and storms that triggered floods, Travis County officials said Monday morning. SUNDAY LIVE BLOG: Rescue efforts continue in Central Texas after 'catastrophic' flash flooding Travis County Judge Andy Brown called the past 48 hours 'an extremely deadly and destructive flood event.' 'I want to start by thanking the first responders, dispatchers, road crews, utility workers and volunteers and people, citizens, residents, who have exercised extraordinary bravery over these past 48 hours, you have saved countless lives, sustained hope in the darkest moments, and will continue to do so in big and small ways over the days and weeks ahead,' Brown said. 'For all the people and communities that are impacted, we stand with you and are doing all that we can to support you.' Brown said that around 50 people had been rescued across the county. Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said that at least four of those rescued were taken to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. On Sunday morning, Brown estimated that between 11 and 13 people were still missing. The death toll in Travis County did not increase from Saturday. Hernandez said that call volume at the county's 911 call center surged early Saturday morning. By 3 a.m., they received 112 calls related to flooding. Two boat teams were active in Travis County during rescue operations. At least seven people have died and 10 others are missing after devastating flooding in Travis County. SATURDAY BLOG: Latest updates amid Central Texas flash flooding An Emergency Operations Center was activated overnight in Lago Vista, as first responders began receiving dozens of calls for water rescues during relentless rainfall. The Sandy Creek area has been hit hardest — and is where most of the missing are from. The first flood calls came from the Cow Creek area. 'We literally had homes that were washed away. We had people trapped in homes,' said Chief Norman. He said many of those residents have since been rescued. Related: Flooding damages road from Lago Vista to Marble Falls Among the missing is a 17-year-old girl. Crews from both Travis and Williamson counties are working together to respond to ongoing emergencies, with additional support now arriving from the state. 'Don't become a statistic, please stay home,' Norman added. Austin-Travis County EMS said it responded to a water rescue call around 2 a.m. in the Sandy Creek neighborhood. A family was trapped in their home due to rising flood waters, and rescue efforts were complicated due to impassible roads, EMS said. 'ATCEMS boat teams eventually made access to the area and found dozens of people in need of help, clinging to trees, power poles, and on rooftops,' EMS said. A total of 25 people were evacuated from the area, and 10 were taken to a family assistance center. Medics transported four people to local hospitals with minor injuries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
