Texas flash flooding: At least 50 people killed; girl, eight, 'living her best life' named among victims
Campers and staff from one of the camps on the Guadalupe River, Camp Waldemar, have been reunited with their families.
People were seen embracing their loved ones, with some shedding tears, at a reunification area.
Unknown number of people missing
Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said there could be more people missing in the region than the 27 girls unaccounted for from Camp Mystic.
"We are kind of looking at this in two ways called the known missing, which is the 27... We will not put a number on the other side because we just don't know," he said at a news conference.
He said "hundreds" have been rescued from campsites around the Guadalupe River so far and searches are ongoing.
Authorities in Travis County said at least 13 people are missing.
In Burnet County, a firefighter was among the missing after he was swept away by floodwaters while responding to a rescue, county Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio said.
Some of the deadliest floods to hit the US in the last 25 years
Flooding causes an average of more than 125 deaths a year, according to the National Weather Service.
Here's some of the most deadly flooding to have occurred in the last 25 years...
Hurricane Helene, 2024
Helene struck Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia in September 2024. The storm caused about 250 deaths, according to the National Weather Service.
Kentucky, 2022
Raging floodwaters in eastern Kentucky led to 45 deaths in late July.
The floods destroyed homes and businesses and caused significant damage to schools, roads, bridges and water systems.
Tennessee, 2021
Twenty people were killed when creeks near the small Middle Tennessee town of Waverly overflowed, following 43cm of rainfall in less than 24 hours.
Hurricane Harvey, 2017
Harvey killed at least 68 people when it swept into Texas in August 2017.
All but three of the Harvey deaths were directly attributed to freshwater flooding, which damaged more than 300,000 structures and caused an estimated $125 billion in damage.
West Virginia, 2016
It began as a rainstorm that seemed minor, but turned into a catastrophe that trapped dozens of people, ultimately killing 23 in the state.
Superstorm Sandy, 2012
Sandy was a freak combination of a hurricane and other storms that struck New York and the surrounding areas in October 2012. It killed 147 people.
Hurricane Katrina, 2005
This was the deadliest flood event in the past 25 years.
Katrina caused nearly 1,400 deaths and an estimated $200 billion in damages, with people having to be rescued by boat and helicopter from rooftops.
Death toll rises to 50
At least 43 people have been killed in the flash flooding in Kerr County, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a news conference.
This includes at least 15 children and 28 adults, with five children and 12 adults pending identification.
More than two dozen girls remain missing from Camp Mystic, but authorities have not said how many people were missing beyond the 27 children.
In nearby Kendall County, one person has died.
At least four people were killed in Travis County, while at least two people died in Burnet County.
Congressman 'reunited' with daughters evacuated from Camp Mystic
Rep. August Pfluger said his daughters Caroline and Juliana were evacuated from Camp Mystic and "reunited" with his family.
In pictures: It is now 12 hours since flash floods swept across Kerr County
This is what it looks like on the ground.
What we learned from the latest news conference
There wasn't a huge amount of news to come out of this evening's press conference, apart from an update on the number of people who have died.
Gov. Greg Abbott was accompanied by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as well as a number of Texas officials.
The group spent most of the news conference praising the response of the local community, as well as reiterating promises to continue searching for victims.
There was clear frustration from viewers watching the live link at the lack of information coming through.
It was only confirmed at the end, in response to a reporter's question, that 32 people have died, with eight of the recovered bodies currently unidentified. Some 850 people have been rescued. But officials warned these numbers will continue to change.
More than 1,300 people have been brought in to help deal with the emergency disaster response.
Secretary Noem also answered questions about whether the flash flood warnings came through promptly: "We know that everyone wants more warning time and that is why we are working to upgrade the technologies that have been neglected for far too long."
Gov. Abbott also talked about the importance of prayer.
"Prayer does work," he said, adding that they "could have been the reason why water stopped rising into a home or a cabin, or something that would have caused an entire building to float away."
32 dead in Texas flooding
More bodies have been recovered from the flash flooding.
Thirty-two bodies have been recovered, 14 of which are children.
Of those, five adults and three children remain unidentified.
"The numbers are going to continue to change until we are done," says Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha.
Chief Nim Kidd says there is still an active search for live victims.
"That will turn into recovery at some point, and none of us wants to put a timeframe on that," he adds.
It is still not known exactly how many people are currently missing.
More than 850 people saved so far, 'some clinging to trees'
Rescuers have saved more than 850 people, Gov. Abbott says.
"Some clinging to trees to save their lives," he adds.
Senator John Cornyn is speaking next. He also praises the first responders.
Watch Gov. Abbott sign the disaster declaration below...
President Trump 'absolutely heartbroken' by flash flooding
"President Trump loves Texas," Gov. Abbott says, adding that the president is "deeply concerned" by the flash flooding.
He then hands over to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who says Trump is "absolutely heartbroken by what has happened here in Texas".
"This morning I talked with him several times and he wanted to make sure that all of you know how much he loves Texas, how much he's grieving for your families that have lost someone and the beautiful children that we are still looking for and hoping to return to their families," she says.
"He is absolutely committed to using all the resources of the federal government to help unify families."
She then praises the state of Texas.
"I do know that the state of Texas is amazing in how it responds to disasters," she says.
"Not every state is like that. Many states do not do what the people of Texas do. And you are an example to the nation of getting through these difficult times."
She says she will be visiting Camp Mystic later today, where 27 girls are currently missing.
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The Independent
41 minutes ago
- The Independent
What to know about the flash floods in Texas that killed nearly 70 people
Flash floods in Texas killed dozens and left an unknown number of July Fourth visitors and campers missing, including many girls attending Camp Mystic. The devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio, has drawn a massive search effort as officials face questions over their preparedness and the speed of their initial actions. Here's what to know about the deadly flooding, the colossal weather system that drove it in and around Kerr County, Texas, and ongoing efforts to identify victims. Massive rain hit at just the wrong time, in a flood-prone place The floods grew to their worst at the midpoint of a long holiday weekend when many people were asleep. The Texas Hill Country in the central part of the state is naturally prone to flash flooding due to the dry dirt-packed areas where the soil lets rain skid along the surface of the landscape instead of soaking it up. Friday's flash floods started with a particularly bad storm that dropped most of its 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in the dark early morning hours. After a flood watch notice midday Thursday, the National Weather Service office issued an urgent warning around 4 a.m. that raised the potential of catastrophic damage and a severe threat to human life. By at least 5:20 a.m., some in the Kerrville City area say water levels were getting alarmingly high. The massive rain flowing down hills sent rushing water into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes. Death toll is expected to rise and the number of missing is uncertain At least 59 people in Kerr County, and eight elsewhere in central Texas were confirmed dead as of Sunday morning. In Kerr County, 38 of the victims dead were adults and 21 were children, including 16 girls recovered from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river. Eleven more girls were still unaccounted for. For past campers, the tragedy turned happy memories into grief. Beyond the Camp Mystic campers unaccounted for, the number of missing from other nearby campgrounds and across the region had not been released. 'We don't even want to begin to estimate at this time,' Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said Saturday, citing the likely influx of visitors during the July Fourth holiday. Officials face scrutiny over flash flood warnings Survivors have described the floods as a 'pitch black wall of death' and said they received no emergency warnings. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, who lives along the Guadalupe River, said Saturday that ' nobody saw this coming.' Various officials have referred to it as a '100-year-flood,' meaning that the water levels were highly unlikely based on the historical record. And records behind those statistics don't always account for human-caused climate change. Though it's hard to connect specific storms to a warming planet so soon after they occur, meteorologists say that a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture and allow severe storms to dump even more rain. Additionally, officials have come under scrutiny about why residents and youth summer camps along the river were not alerted sooner than 4 a.m. or told to evacuate. Officials noted that the public can grow weary from too many flooding alerts or forecasts that turn out to be minor. Kerr county officials said they had presented a proposal for a more robust flood warning system, similar to a tornado warning system, but that members of the public reeled at the cost. On Sunday, officials walked out of a news briefing after reporters asked them again about delays in alerts and evacuations. Monumental clearing and rebuilding effort The flash floods have erased campgrounds and torn homes from their foundations. "It's going to be a long time before we're ever able to clean it up, much less rebuild it," Kelly said Saturday after surveying the destruction from a helicopter. Other massive flooding events have driven residents and business owners to give up, including in areas struck last year by Hurricane Helene. AP photographers have captured the scale of the destruction, and one of Texas' largest rescue and recover efforts.
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Death toll rises after devastating flooding in central Texas
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Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Texas flash flooding: 21 children among at least 69 killed; children at summer camp still missing
Trump signs 'major disaster declaration' for Kerr County An update is now coming from Travis County, where four people have been killed in the flooding. Some areas received over a foot of rainfall in a matter of hours. In some cases, water rose faster than 911 responders could reach people, Travis County officials say. At the same time, President Donald Trump confirms he has signed a "major disaster declaration" for nearby Kerr County. Number dead in flash floods is 69 Officials have released the latest death toll, speaking to the media at a press conference. At least 59 people have died in Kerr County - 38 are adults, and 21 are children. At Camp Mystic, 11 children and one camp counsellor are still missing, Sheriff Larry Leitha says. "We extend our sincerest condolences and prayers to every single family affected by this tragedy, and we continue to work around the clock to reunite these families," he adds. A further ten have been confirmed dead in other Texas counties, taking the total to 69. Woman found dead 'several blocks' from her flooded car A woman has been found dead "several blocks" from her flooded car, a local police force has confirmed. The latest death was reported in San Angelo, a city in West Texas some 150 miles away from Kerrville. Tanya Burwick, 62, was last seen driving in an area with rising floodwaters. Her vehicle was later found, submerged beneath the water. "Upon confirming that the vehicle was unoccupied, our team immediately expanded the search into the surrounding area," San Angelo police said in a statement. Ms Burwick's body was later found several blocks away. "Our hearts are heavy as we extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Burwick's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time," the force said. "The San Angelo Police Department stands with the entire community in mourning this tragic loss." Twenty-eight adults and 15 children have died in Kerr County, four people are confirmed dead in Travis County and one person is dead in Kendall County, officials said. Pope Leo sends prays to Texas families Pope Leo has expressed "sincere condolences" to those who have lost loved ones in the flooding. British staff working at Camp Mystic 'safe and accounted for' British staff working at Camp Mystic are all safe and accounted for, following the devastating floods that ripped through the campsite in the early hours of 4 July. Rescue crews continue to search for 27 missing children who were at the camp near the Guadalupe River. Mystic was seeking to recruit 12 international staff via Camp America, but it is not yet known how many Brits took up the roles. But those who were there are safe, the organisation has confirmed. In a statement, Camp America confirmed to Sky News it did have participants affected by the flash floods. "Camp America participants that were at the camp have all been accounted for and are safe in area hotels," it said. "Camp America emergency support arrived in Kerrville on Friday night, with further staff arriving today, meeting with our participants throughout the weekend to provide support and assistance. "The whole camping world is saddened by the tragic loss of life that has occurred, and our thoughts are with those families who have been affected." Watch: Texas searches for missing children Rescue teams in Texas are searching for 27 girls missing from Camp Mystic, with crews scouring a wide area by helicopter. Searches have been hampered by the floods moving debris, and those caught up in it, over large distances. Good afternoon We are returning to our live coverage of the flash flooding in Texas, which has led to the deaths of at least 51 people. A desperate rescue mission is continuing to find the 27 children who went missing from a girls' church camp along the Guadalupe River, which was overwhelmed by heavy rain on Friday morning. Authorities have not said how many other people are missing. Rescuers in Texas, where it is now approaching 8am, are scouring a devastated landscape of mangled trees and overturned cars left in the wake of destructive, fast-moving water. We'll be bringing you all the latest throughout the day. We're pausing our live coverage We are pausing our live coverage on the devastating flash floods in Texas - thank you for following along. Rescued girl 'was on a mattress for hours' Texas Congressman Chip Roy has said that a girl was stuck on a mattress for hours before she was rescued. "One of my kids' schoolmates was missing. She was on a mattress for two to three hours in the middle of the night. She was reunited with her mom, and that's wonderful," he told reporters at a news conference. "These are the kind of blessings we should be celebrating while also mourning the loss of life as we identify those who didn't make it." Texas governor declares 'day of prayer' Greg Abbott has asked Texans to "join me in prayer" for those affected by the devastating floods.
