At least 82 people have died and dozens are still missing after devastating floods hit central Texas. In Kerr County, the hardest-hit area, at least 40 adults and 28 children have been killed, officials say.
Rescuers are still searching for at least 41 missing people, according to state and local officials. Among them are ten girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic, an all-girls’ summer camp along the Guadalupe River that rose more than twenty feet in less than two hours during the peak of the flooding early on the Fourth of July.
New rain has already begun swelling waterways in Kerr County, the sheriff warns. Gov. Greg Abbott said flash flooding continues to pose a danger for several parts of Texas as “more heavy rainfall” is expected. He added that authorities would “stop at nothing” to ensure every missing person is found.
Kerr County in Texas worst hit by floods
Hundreds of local, state, and national first responders are participating in search and rescue operations in Kerr County, one of the hardest hit areas, where at least 40 adults and 28 children have been killed by flash flooding.
President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration on Sunday for Kerr County, activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Texas. He also said he would likely visit the state on Friday.
“We’re working very closely with representatives from Texas, and it’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible,” Trump said on Sunday in New Jersey. Trump said his administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, was working closely with state and local officials.
“We’ll continue to be there. And we’re working very closely with representatives from Texas, and it’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible,” Trump repeated. “So we say, God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless, God bless the state of Texas.”
Rescue ops recover 520 individuals
More than 400 people across some twenty agencies are involved in the operation, according to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office. This includes more than a dozen K9 units working around the Guadalupe River, which rose more than twenty feet in less than two hours during the peak of the flooding early on the Fourth of July.
More than 100 air, water, and ground vehicles have also been deployed to assist in rescue operations, the Sheriff’s office reported. The Texas National Guard and Air National Guard have deployed Black Hawk helicopters to assist with search and rescue operations.
Their rescue operations have “resulted in the successful recovery of 520 individuals,” the Texas Military Department said, including 361 air evacuations conducted with Black Hawks and 159 ground rescues.
“It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through,” said Abbott, a day after he toured the area.
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