A Texas Dad Tried to Kayak to His Daughters. The Girls Texted ‘I Love You.'
The Harber family was spending the holiday at a cabin they owned in the Casa Bonita cabin community near Hunt, Texas. Around 3:30 a.m. on Friday, July 4, RJ Harber was awakened by pounding rain, thunder and lightning. Hours earlier, he had received flash-flood warnings for other areas but not where he was staying.
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Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Texas flood toll passes 100 as more bodies recovered
The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas rose to more than 100 on Monday, as rescuers continued their grim search for people swept away by torrents of water. Among the dead were at least 27 girls and counselors who were staying at a youth summer camp on a river when disaster struck over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Forecasters have warned of more flooding as rain falls on saturated ground, complicating recovery efforts involving helicopters, boats, dogs and some 1,750 personnel. "There is still a threat of heavy rain with the potential to cause flooding," Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement Monday, with the number of victims expected to rise still. President Donald Trump confirmed he planned to visit Texas on Friday, as the White House slammed critics claiming his cuts to weather agencies had weakened warning systems. "Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie, and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday. She said the National Weather Service, which The New York Times reported had several key roles in Texas unfilled before the floods, issued "timely and precise forecasts and warnings." Trump has described the floods that struck in the early hours of Friday as a "100-year catastrophe" that "nobody expected." The president, who previously said disaster relief should be handled at the state level, has signed a major disaster declaration, activating fresh federal funds and freeing up resources. - 'Tragedy' - At least 104 flood-related deaths were reported across central Texas. Kerr County, through which the Guadalupe River runs, was the hardest hit, with at least 84 people killed including 28 children, according to the local sheriff's office. The toll includes 27 who had been staying at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp that was housing about 750 people when the floodwaters struck. Camps are a beloved tradition in the long US summer holidays, with children often staying in woods, parks and other rural areas. Texas Senator Ted Cruz described them as a chance to make "lifetime friends -- and then suddenly it turns to tragedy." But some residents were questioning the absence of more robust flood-warning systems in this region of south and central Texas -- where such deluges are so frequent that it is known colloquially as "Flash Flood Alley." Experts stress the NWS sent out timely forecasts, and climate scientist Daniel Swain pinned the problem on a failure of "warning dissemination." San Antonio mother Nicole Wilson -- who almost sent her daughters to Camp Mystic -- launched a petition on urging Governor Greg Abbott to approve a modern warning network. "Five minutes of that siren going off could have saved every single one of those children," she told AFP. - Two-story building - In a terrifying display of nature's power, the rain-swollen waters of the Guadalupe River reached treetops and the roofs of cabins as girls at the camp slept. Blankets, teddy bears and other belongings were caked in mud. Windows in the cabins were shattered, apparently by the force of the water. Volunteers were helping search through debris from the river, with some motivated by personal connections to the victims. "We're helping the parents of two of the missing children," Louis Deppe, 62, told AFP. "The last message they got was 'We're being washed away,' and the phone went dead." Months' worth of rain fell in a matter of hours on Thursday night into Friday, and rain has continued in bouts since then. The Guadalupe surged around 26 feet (eight meters) -- more than a two-story building -- in just 45 minutes. Flash floods occur when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall. Human-driven climate change has made extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heat waves more frequent and more intense in recent years. bur-aks/st
Fox News
43 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
an hour 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.
