Texas Floods Cause Devastation Over Fourth of July Weekend

The Texas floods over Fourth of July weekend have killed more than 100 people, local officials said Monday afternoon, as search and rescue efforts continued. In Kerr County, searchers have found the bodies of 84 people: 56 adults and 28 children, according to the Kerr County sheriff’s office. Twenty-two adults and 10 children have yet to be identified, the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook.

“At present, 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for,” the post read. “We share our deepest condolences with all affected by this tragedy.”

Twenty other deaths have been reported in other parts of Texas: One in Tom Green County, two in Williamson County, four in Burnet County, six in Kendall County and seven in Travis County. The death toll stands at 104 people as of Monday evening.

Search Efforts and Damage Assessment

Local first responders and government officials said they expect the number of confirmed dead to grow in the coming days as search and rescue teams and volunteers comb the banks of the Guadalupe River.

With additional rain on the way, more flooding still threatened in saturated parts of Central Texas.

“I need to tell my community and those families who are waiting, this will be a rough week,” Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. said at a news briefing Monday. “Primary search continues, and we remain hopeful. Every foot, every mile, every bend of the river, our work continues.”

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at the news briefing that of the dead, 27 were children. Nine children and 15 adults remain unidentified, he said.

Identification Process and Support

Texas Rangers are collecting DNA from victims and family members.

The unidentified remains are being flown to the University of North Texas’ Center for Human Identification in Fort Worth for rapid analysis, with officials promising answers “in hours, not days.”

“We continue to offer our condolences to those affected,” Leitha said. “Reuniting the families remains our top priority here on this operation.”

Impact on Camp Mystic

Camp Mystic said on its website Monday it “is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors.”

The statement did not say all those missing from the camp had been found, but it seemed to concede it was unlikely they would be found alive.

“We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls,” the statement said.

Search Efforts in Kerr County

Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice on Monday described the massive effort from first responders and volunteers searching a 100-kilometer stretch of the Guadalupe River, which was the epicenter of major floods in the early hours of July 4.

Officials have said the river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes.

Rice said officials have first responders working in 2- to 3-kilometer grids across the massive flood zone. Personnel, boats, dogs, drones and helicopters are all aiding the search, and each grid can take one to three hours to search thoroughly.

Mexico Firefighter Crew Joins Search

A firefighting crew from Acuña, Mexico, also came to Texas to help local first responders.

Jesús Gomez said his team recovered the body of one victim killed in the floods.

“It’s hard, but first responders, we’re a different breed, pretty much,” Gomez said. “It’s a lot of mental health things we need to do, but it’s not the first time we see a dead body.”

Government Response and Support

President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration Sunday for Kerr County, activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Texas.

Sen. Ted Cruz was on hand for the Monday morning news briefing. Cruz said he spoke to Trump about the Hill Country floods, and the president offered unconditional support.

“I said, ‘Mr. President, everything we’re hearing right now, this appears to be bad, really bad,’” Cruz said. “‘There may be a very significant loss of life unfolding right now in Texas.’ And I will tell you, the President said, ‘Ted, anything Texas needs, the answer is yes. Whatever assets you need, whatever resources you need, yes, let us know, and we will provide everything.’”

More on Camp Mystic

Camp Mystic, in addition to the campers and counselors, also lost its longtime director, Richard “Dick” Eastland. He was confirmed among the dead after reportedly trying to save the girls under his care.

The camp, which had just begun its second four-week session, was forced to evacuate hundreds of campers and staff early Friday as floodwaters surged through the community of Hunt and other parts of Kerr County.

Before the floods, the nearly 100-year-old Camp Mystic was a sprawling 700-acre campground dotted with green-roofed, cobblestone cabins and rows of cypress, live oak and pecan trees. It drew hundreds of girls and generations of families to the Hill Country each year.

Conclusion

The Texas floods over Fourth of July weekend have caused devastation and loss of life, with the death toll standing at 104 people as of Monday evening. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with first responders and volunteers working tirelessly to locate those who are missing. The impact on Camp Mystic has been particularly severe, with 27 campers and counselors confirmed dead.

As the search efforts continue, officials are also working to provide support to those affected by the tragedy. Donations can be made to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund at communityfoundation.net.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the current death toll from the Texas floods?

A: The current death toll from the Texas floods stands at 104 people as of Monday evening.

Q: How many people are still missing?

A: 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for, according to the Kerr County sheriff’s office.

Q: What is being done to support those affected by the floods?

A: Donations can be made to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund at communityfoundation.net, and officials are working to provide support to those affected by the tragedy.

Q: How can I help with the search efforts?

A: Potential volunteers can contact the Kerrville Salvation Army at 830-465-4797 or come to the organization’s social services office at 855 Hays St. in Kerrville.