Texas Floods Kill 13, Camps Devastated, Dozens Missing \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Torrential rain triggered flash floods in Texas Hill Country, killing 13 and leaving over 20 summer campers missing. Emergency crews conducted urgent rescues by boat and helicopter. In New Jersey, severe storms claimed three lives.
Quick Looks
- Over 10 inches of rain fell overnight in Kerr County.
- At least 13 dead and 20+ girls from summer camps missing.
- Emergency teams conducted water rescues using boats and helicopters.
- Kerr County Sheriff and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confirmed fatalities.
- Residents pleaded for information via social media.
- Flood sirens sounded downstream in Kendall County, urging evacuations.
- The Guadalupe River rose over 22 feet in just 2 hours.
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott dispatched state resources to affected regions.
- In New Jersey, three were killed by storms and falling trees.
Deep Look
In a horrifying display of nature’s unpredictability, Texas Hill Country was slammed by flash floods after an overnight deluge delivered more than 10 inches of rain, transforming scenic riverfront areas into deadly torrents. At least 13 people have been confirmed dead, and over 20 young girls attending a summer camp remain unaccounted for as of Friday afternoon, prompting desperate search and rescue operations across Kerr County and beyond.
Water rescue teams deployed helicopters and boats to navigate the dangerous currents of the Guadalupe River, which surged to catastrophic levels with astonishing speed. According to Bob Fogarty, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, a river gauge in Hunt recorded a 22-foot rise in under two hours before equipment failed as waters peaked at 29.5 feet. “This is the kind of thing that will catch you unaware,” Fogarty warned. “The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you.”
Social media became a lifeline for distraught families and friends, with Facebook comments flooded by people posting photos and names of missing loved ones. One woman begged for information about her daughter, who had rented a cabin in Hunt for a family trip and hadn’t been heard from.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha delivered concurrent but slightly differing updates during news conferences. While Patrick cited 6 to 10 confirmed deaths, Leitha reported a total of 13. Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s top elected official, confirmed multiple fatalities and dozens of water rescues, though he declined to give precise numbers, saying authorities were still working to identify the deceased. “Most of them, we don’t know who they are,” Kelly said somberly. “One of them was completely naked, he didn’t have any ID on him at all.”
Among the most heart-wrenching aspects of the disaster is the uncertainty surrounding more than 20 girls from area summer camps who have not been accounted for. Camps Mystic, Waldemar, and La Junta, all located along the riverbanks, experienced varying levels of flooding. Camp Mystic confirmed in a statement that the site faced “catastrophic” flooding and said families of unaccounted-for campers had been notified. Camp Waldemar and Camp La Junta stated on Instagram that all their campers were safe.
Lt. Gov. Patrick pleaded for statewide support. “I’m asking the people of Texas, do some serious praying this afternoon. On-your-knees kind of praying, that we find these young girls,” he urged.
One survivor, Erin Burgess, recounted her harrowing experience from the Bumble Bee Hills neighborhood. Woken by heavy rain at 3:30 a.m., she said that within 20 minutes, water was rushing through her home. She and her 19-year-old son clung to a tree while her boyfriend and dog were swept away temporarily. “Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me,” she said through tears.
Despite advanced warnings issued the day before, local officials insisted the scale of the flooding took everyone by surprise. “We do not have a warning system,” Judge Kelly said, when pressed about lack of evacuation preparation. “We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States.”
Downstream communities such as Comfort in Kendall County were bracing for additional flooding. The sheriff’s office issued an urgent evacuation alert, saying: “We regret to inform everyone that the flood situation in Comfort is not improving. We have sounded the flood sirens and urge all residents in low-lying areas of town to evacuate immediately.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the state had deployed resources to hard-hit towns including Kerrville, Ingram, and Hunt to aid with rescue and recovery operations. The Hill Country, known for its natural beauty, vineyards, and popular summer camps, has long been vulnerable to sudden floods due to its rocky terrain and river valleys.
The flooding coincides with extreme weather in other parts of the country. In central New Jersey, powerful thunderstorms claimed at least three lives. Two men, aged 79 and 25, died when a tree fell onto their vehicle in Plainfield, according to local officials. The city canceled all July 4th festivities, including parades and fireworks, citing the storm’s “devastating” impact.
“Our hearts are heavy today,” Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said in a statement. “This tragedy is a sobering reminder of the power of nature and the fragility of life.”
Southern New England also saw widespread storm damage, including hail, downed trees, power outages, and traffic accidents. In northeastern Connecticut, multiple cars were reported to have skidded off roads amid hazardous conditions.
With the weekend forecast remaining volatile across much of the U.S., emergency services in both Texas and New Jersey are urging residents to remain vigilant and prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions.
Texas Floods Kill
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