‘Pitch black wall of death': 27 dead, dozens missing after devastating Texas floods sweep through girls' summer camp; '‘It's terrible, it's shocking', Trump reacts
"It's terrible, the floods. It's shocking," Trump told reporters, reacting to the devastation as emergency crews rushed to locate missing residents, including at least 24 girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Kerr County, which was completely destroyed by floodwaters.
The Guadalupe River surged over 26 feet in just 45 minutes before dawn Friday, washing away cabins, homes, and vehicles. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at least 240 people had been rescued, but many remain unaccounted for as search efforts continue using helicopters, boats, and drones.
Crews worked through the early hours of Saturday, navigating debris and swift currents in the dark. 'The water's moving so fast, you're not going to recognize how bad it is until it's on top of you,' said Bob Fogarty, a National Weather Service meteorologist, reported AP.
Frantic families posted photos of missing children, and a reunification center in Ingram saw tearful reunions as rescued campers arrived. 'The camp was completely destroyed,' said 13-year-old Elinor Lester, one of the survivors.
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'A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.'
Some residents described having no warning before the flood hit. 'We got no emergency alert. There was nothing,' said Matthew Stone. 'Then a pitch black wall of death.'
Despite claims from local officials that they didn't anticipate such intense flooding, AccuWeather and the National Weather Service confirmed issuing warnings well before the storm hit.
'These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps,' AccuWeather said.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said alerts were sent but acknowledged that predicting the storm's precise impact was difficult. 'Everything was done to give them a heads up,' he said.
More rain is expected through the weekend, with flash flood warnings still in effect. Officials have warned that the danger has not passed. The Texas Hill Country, popular for its rivers and summer camps, is known as one of the most flood-prone areas in the US.
'When it rains, water doesn't soak into the soil,' said Austin Dickson of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. 'It rushes down the hill.'
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