The death toll from the catastrophic flash floods that ravaged central Texas on Friday, July 4, has climbed to over 100, with dozens still missing as search and rescue operations extend into a fourth day.
Among the victims are at least 27 girls and staff members from Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls’ summer camp located in Kerr County. Another ten girls and a camp counselor remain unaccounted for, as rescue teams struggle through treacherous mudslides and debris-filled waters.
Kerr County has recorded the highest number of casualties so far, with 84 confirmed deaths — 56 adults and 28 children. Authorities report that at least 22 adults and 10 children are yet to be identified.
In a statement on Monday, Camp Mystic said: “Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy.”
One of the confirmed dead is 70-year-old Richard Eastland, co-owner and director of Camp Mystic, who reportedly lost his life while trying to save campers. “The whole community will miss him. He died a hero,” said local pastor and family friend Del Way in an interview with the BBC.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned of continued thunderstorms and the risk of further flash flooding as the region faces more slow-moving storms.
Amid growing scrutiny over emergency preparedness, critics have pointed to previous budget cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which oversees the NWS, under President Donald Trump’s administration.
However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed such concerns during a Monday press briefing, calling the disaster “an act of God” and maintaining that the NWS provided “early and consistent warnings.”
“The National Weather Service did its job. Local officials were briefed ahead of time, and flood watches and warnings were issued throughout the night,” Leavitt said.
President Trump, who is scheduled to visit Texas later this week, initially blamed what he called a “Biden set-up” for weakened infrastructure but later acknowledged the scale of the event, saying, “I wouldn’t blame Biden for it, either. I would just say this is a 100-year catastrophe.”
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick acknowledged that the absence of flood warning sirens in Kerr County may have worsened the impact. “They should be in place by next summer,” he said.
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