'100-year catastrophe': Nearly 80 killed in Texas flash floods - What we know so far
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"This is 100-year catastrophe, and it's just so horrible to watch," Trump said, adding that he would visit "probably on Friday."
Rescuers in Texas scrambled on Sunday to locate dozens of missing people, including children. The search efforts grew urgent as forecasters warned of more heavy rain and fresh flooding.
What we know so far:
'You will see death toll rise today'
Texas public safety chief Freeman Martin warned that the death toll would rise. "You will see the death toll rise today," Martin said.
Meanwhile, Texas governor Greg Abbott said, "Across the state, in all the areas affected by flooding, there are 41 known missing."
Heavy rain at wrong time in a flood-prone place
The flash floods in Texas struck at the height of the long holiday weekend, catching many people as they slept. The disaster unfolded in the Texas Hill Country, a region especially vulnerable to flash floods because its dry, compacted soil causes rainwater to race across the surface rather than being absorbed.
A powerful overnight storm unleashed nearly 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain early Friday morning, setting the stage for devastation.
Authorities had issued a flood watch on Thursday, but by 4am Friday (local time) the National Weather Service escalated it to a dire warning, citing catastrophic risks to life and property. Within little more than an hour, residents of Kerrville City saw water levels surge alarmingly, as runoff from the hills sent torrents into the Guadalupe River. The river rose an astonishing 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes, overwhelming the region.
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Is FEMA assisting Texas recovery efforts amid catastrophic flood? Here's what we know as WH calls it ‘an act of God'
The devastating floods in Texas may mark the beginning of a new normal in the US as President Donald Trump and his supporters dismantle important government organisations that assist states in preparing for and responding to extreme weather and other threats, warned experts. The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas rose to more than 100 on July 7, as rescuers continued their grim search for people swept away by torrents of water. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)(AFP) Flash floods in the dry region known as Texas Hill Country swept away entire vacation camps and homes on Friday night, leaving over 100 people dead and several others missing. There are still questions about why the early warning system did not lead to the prompt evacuation of Camp Mystic, where 700 girls were staying on a known flood plain on the Guadalupe River. There is growing worry that the instability and cuts at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Weather Service (NWS) caused by Trump and his billionaire contributor Elon Musk may have led to the casualties. 'It takes a lot of money, expertise and time to eliminate risk and make sure that agencies are prepared to respond when a flood situation like in Texas happens. And if you eliminate those preparedness efforts, if you fire the people who do that work, then the response will not be effective,' stated Samantha Montano, who works as a emergency management professor at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, as per The Guardian. Also Read: Melania Trump's Texas floods post sparks outrage as she offers just two things to victims; 'You and your husband…' What is FEMA and what are Trump cuts? Jimmy Carter founded FEMA in 1979 because states were having a hard time dealing with large-scale disasters. FEMA operates closely with state and local government organizations to offer resources, collaboration, technical expertise, leadership, and public outreach when they are unable to handle things on their own. After coming back to the White House, Trump ridiculed the organization while it was still working to assist communities affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles and Hurricane Helene that killed at least 230 people in southern Appalachia. He even threatened to dismantle FEMA. According to reports, almost one-third of FEMA's permanent full-time employees have either been let go or accepted buyouts. These workers included most seasoned and competent officials who oversee disaster response. Is FEMA assisting Texas amid flash flooding? Trump on July 6 signed a key disaster designation for Texas, triggering FEMA to assist the state in the face of devastating flash flooding. FEMA infrastructure reportedly has been a source of assistance as Travis County (Texas) Judge Andy Brown stated to CNN that 'Our emergency apparatus here in Travis County and in the state of Texas, frankly, would not work without the assistance of FEMA and the National Weather Service.' According to the Dallas-Fort Worth news station NBC 5, 'FEMA will work with Texas state and local authorities to aid in the search and rescue efforts.' On her X account, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated, 'We are currently deploying federal emergency management resources to Texas first responders, and will work closely with state and local authorities to ensure the people of Texas get the support they need as search efforts continue and recovery begins.' Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré told CNN that he opposes Trump's plan to dismantle FEMA following the devastating flooding in Central Texas. He said that FEMA needs to be improved, not destroyed. "We need FEMA, and we need them to do what they're doing and do it better, but not destroy FEMA. That's a bad idea.' Meanwhile, the White House on Monday dubbed the deadly Texas floods 'an act of God'.
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Explained: Why the Texas floods were so catastrophic
The death toll in the flash floods in Texas has surpassed 100, with many still missing. But why was the deluge so deadly? Geography, climate change and policy failures amplified the impact of the storm read more Volunteers search for missing people along the banks of the Guadalupe River after recent flooding. AP Catastrophic flash floods hit Texas on Friday (July 4) amid Independence Day celebrations. Nearly 104 people have died while hundreds of others are missing as the deluge struck a children's summer camp and other holiday spots. Search operations are now underway amid predictions for more rain in the coming days. The floods were unprecedented. A month's rainfall was received in just a few hours, causing the Guadalupe River to burst its banks. But what was the reason for such torrential rain? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What caused the flash floods? The National Weather Service (NWS) has termed flash flooding as a rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area, which was witnessed on July 4. It mainly occurs when the water level of a stream rises rapidly above the preset flood levels. In the case of the Texas floods, the area was in the middle of a drought, which worsened the situation, reported Associated Press. People climb over debris on a bridge atop the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area. AP Hatim Sharif, a hydrologist at the University of Texas at San Antonio, noted that Texas's Hill Country sits in an area known as 'Flash Flood Alley'. The ascent of warm Gulf air along the Balcones Escarpment, a formidable arc of steep hills and cliffs southwest of Dallas, leads to rapid cooling and intense downpours. These heavy rains quickly wash away the shallow soil, exposing the bedrock beneath. 'Water will rise very, very quickly, within minutes or a few hours,' Sharif told AFP. This was proved in the early hours of July 4. Around 3:00 am, a gauge near Camp Mystic in Hunt showed the Guadalupe River rising nearly a foot (30 centimetres) every five minutes; by 4:30 am, the river had surged more than 20 feet, National Weather Service data show. That's enough water to sweep away people, vehicles and buildings. An urgent NWS warning went out shortly after 1 am, but most campers were asleep; phones are banned, coverage is patchy, and darkness makes escape routes hard to judge. Sharif urges the use of hydrologic forecasts that convert rainfall into likely river levels. 'Rainfall needs to be translated into runoff,' he said. 'If you have 10 inches, what will happen?' Summer camps have long been drawn to the region for its natural beauty. But with increasing risks, Sharif warns that treating these sites as safe or permanent is unwise. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Is climate change to blame? Climate change has come up once again in conversations after the floods. According to a new analysis by ClimaMeter, the extreme meteorological conditions preceding the floods, delivering more than double the typical monthly rainfall in just one day, suggest a cause beyond natural climate fluctuations. 'Climate change is already affecting us, so we need to adapt,' said Mireia Ginesta, a climate scientist at the University of Oxford, who co-authored the research, which is funded by the European Union and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). 'We also need to cut our emissions, and make sure that proper funding is provided to the forecast services and research in general on climate change.' Marissa Zachry, a rescue worker, takes a moment while searching for survivors along the Guadalupe River on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. AP The call comes as the National Weather Service, like other agencies, has experienced deep staffing cuts under President Donald Trump's administration. Experts stress, however, that NWS forecasters performed admirably under the circumstances. The real failure, wrote climate scientist Daniel Swain on Bluesky, 'was not a bad weather prediction, it was one of 'last mile' forecast/warning dissemination.' Was there a warning system in place? According to USA TODAY, the NWS issued flash flood alerts just after 1 am and 4 am, but since most people near the river were asleep, they missed it altogether. A 'flood watch' was issued July 3 with the weather agency stating that there was a 'slight risk' of flash flooding. But there was nothing indicating catastrophic floods like what took place in the early morning hours of July 4, the report said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For years, commissioners in Kerr County, where the camps lie, considered flood sirens and digital alerts to replace the informal practice of summer camp staff getting on the radio and warning fellow camps. Minutes from a 2016 meeting show officials labelling even a feasibility study 'a little extravagant,' suggesting sirens would mainly help tourists, and vouching for the word-of-mouth system. 'The thought of our beautiful Kerr County having these damn sirens going off in the middle of night, I'm going to have to start drinking again to put up with y'all,' Commissioner HA Buster Baldwin said in a transcript. The debate rolled on. Residents during meetings in 2021 expressed strident opposition toward relying on federal funds tied to the Biden administration. After the disaster, 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
