Four days after deadly and destructive flash floods hit parts of Texas, Governor Greg Abbott issued a warning that at least 161 people remain missing in one Texas county, as hope for finding survivors dwindles.
In the badly impacted Kerr County, five children and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp on the Guadalupe River, are missing.
At least 111 people have been killed in the tragedy, according to the latest county-by-county tolls made public by US media. In the Kerrville area, there were more than 90. There are other states besides Texas. On Tuesday, a flash flood disaster in neighboring New Mexico claimed the lives of at least three people.
Texas Floods Update: Emergency Teams Race to Find the Missing in Rudioso
Officials said that after up to 8.8 cm (3.5 in) of rain fell on the village of Rudioso, the river waters flooded it. That flood is over now. As desperate search and rescue efforts in Texas continue, Abbott pledged that emergency personnel “will not stop until every missing person is accounted for.”
Abbott stated that it was very likely that more missing persons would be added to the list in the coming days and urged people to report anyone they think is missing. General Thomas Suelzer of the Texas National Guard said the search was being conducted using Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters fitted with rescue hoists.
Four of the 13 Black Hawk helicopters helping with the search, he said, were from Arkansas. Additionally, Reaper drones have been utilized. Responders from several agencies are coordinating rescue efforts. Agents from the FBI, Border Patrol, and National Guard make up this group.
1. Over 250 Rescuers Search for Survivors Amid Widespread Destruction
More than 250 responders from various agencies have been sent to the Kerrville area alone to help with search and rescue operations. One of those rescue volunteers, Tim, told the BBC that he had never seen such destruction.
“I’ve lived through hurricanes and floods in East and Southeast Texas, but the Texas floods are a true nightmare,” he said. Another rescue volunteer, Justin, described the ongoing search as overwhelming. “It’s like trying to find one hay in a haystack,” he added. The scale of the Texas floods has made rescue efforts extremely challenging.
Many people question whether officials gave enough flood warnings before the Texas floods struck. Delays in evacuation also raised concerns. Experts say several factors contributed to the Texas floods disaster. Timing, remote vacation homes, and extreme weather played major roles.
2. What Went Wrong During the Texas Floods? Governor Abbott Responds
Abbott, who had spent part of the day researching the flood zone, stated that officials “didn’t know the magnitude of the storm,” even though they had issued a storm warning and were aware of a possible flash flood. He asserted that no one had predicted that it would produce a “tsunami wall of water 30 feet high.
“The governor responded, ‘That’s the word choice of losers,” when asked who should be “blamed” for the high death toll. Using a sports analogy, he asserted that winning teams don’t “point fingers,” while American football teams do make mistakes.
3. Kerr County Hit Hard by Texas Floods — Camp Mystic Among the Worst Affected
Most of the deaths happened in Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River was inundated by heavy rains that fell before dawn on Friday, the national holiday for July Fourth. Earlier, Camp Mystic reported the deaths of at least 27 girls and staff.
The survivors are now focusing on trying to rebuild. Justin Brown has lived close to the Guadalupe River for nearly 25 years. A week ago, he lived with his dog and two small children in his Blue Oak RV Park mobile home. Now, where his house once stood, a huge puddle was left behind after his RV was carried away by the floodwaters.
“We were one of the few parks that got almost everybody out,” said Mr. Brown to the BBC, referring to the efforts of his landlord and emergency personnel. He glanced at the emptiness in which his residence had been, now destroyed, and stated that he wanted to return as soon as possible.
4. President Trump to Visit Disaster Zones on Friday
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will visit areas impacted by the Texas floods on Friday. Their visit follows days of deadly storms that have devastated communities and left many residents missing or displaced.
In neighboring New Mexico, the National Weather Service declared a rapid flood emergency on Tuesday. Residents in Ruidoso were placed under a heavy rain warning. The Rio River swelled to 15 feet, sweeping away homes and claiming three lives, including two children. Emergency crews used boats to rescue people trapped by the rising waters. Several residents reported receiving no warnings before the flooding began.
