Texas Flood Search Grows As Hopes Fade For Survivors/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The death toll from devastating Texas floods has surpassed 100 as rescue teams continue searching for the missing. Questions loom over whether sufficient warnings were issued before walls of water swept away camps and homes. Among the dead are children from summer camps in Kerr County.
Texas Flood Search Quick Looks
- Death toll surpasses 100 in Texas floods
- Over 28 children confirmed dead in Kerr County
- 27 killed at Camp Mystic, more still missing
- Survivors describe harrowing escapes from cabins and tents
- Gov. Abbott visiting disaster zones, including Camp Mystic
- Local officials face scrutiny over flood warnings
- Massive rescue effort continues with heavy equipment and volunteers
Deep Look
Hope Fades For Survivors As Texas Flood Death Toll Tops 100 And Search Continues
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Rescue crews in Texas continued scouring debris-choked rivers and ravaged campgrounds on Tuesday, even as hope dwindled for finding survivors of catastrophic floods that have now claimed more than 100 lives across the state.
Improving weather conditions offered some relief to the search effort. After four relentless days of storms pounding Texas Hill Country, skies were beginning to clear, although meteorologists warned isolated downpours could still strike the region.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott was scheduled for another visit Tuesday to Camp Mystic, the historic all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors were swept away in flash floods. Officials said 10 campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for.
Flash Floods Devastate Camps And Homes
The deadly disaster struck before dawn Friday when a massive wall of water surged along the Guadalupe River, overwhelming cabins, tents, and RVs filled with people enjoying the July Fourth holiday. Survivors described clinging desperately to tree trunks as floodwaters dragged vehicles and debris downstream.
Elizabeth Lester, whose children attended Camp Mystic and nearby Camp La Junta, recounted how her young son was forced to swim out of a cabin window to escape the rising water. Her daughter fled up a hillside as currents whipped around her legs. Miraculously, both survived.
“It’s a miracle they’re alive,” Lester said, visibly shaken.
Rising Death Toll And Growing Questions
Authorities in Kerr County, which hosts Camp Mystic and other summer camps, reported the recovery of 84 bodies so far, including 28 children. Another 19 fatalities were confirmed across surrounding counties: Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green, and Williamson.
Among the victims were two 8-year-old sisters from Dallas who perished at Camp Mystic. A former soccer coach and his wife were also confirmed dead after being swept from their riverfront home; their daughters are still missing.
While rescue workers and volunteers continue combing through tangled debris with heavy equipment, mounting scrutiny has fallen on local officials. Residents and reporters have demanded answers about whether authorities did enough to warn people of the life-threatening conditions forecasters had predicted.
At public briefings, Kerr County officials have repeatedly deflected questions about emergency protocols and advance warnings.
“We definitely want to dive in and look at all those things,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice. “We’re looking forward to doing that once we can get the search and rescue complete.”
Preparedness Varied Between Camps
Some summer camps were monitoring weather conditions and took precautions. At least one facility moved several hundred children to higher ground ahead of the floods, possibly saving lives. However, many others were caught completely off guard as floodwaters rose with alarming speed.
Ongoing Rescue Efforts
Search-and-rescue operations remain one of the largest ever mounted in Texas. Hundreds of volunteers have joined professional teams to sift through devastated riverbanks, removing twisted trees, boulders, and debris. Piles of uprooted trees mixed with mattresses, refrigerators, and coolers litter the banks of the Guadalupe River, stark reminders of the storm’s ferocity.
Despite diminishing hopes of finding survivors, searchers continue the painstaking work of recovering those still missing, determined to bring closure to grieving families.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.