At least 82 people have died and dozens more remain missing after flash flooding swept across central Texas, according to media reports.
Most fatalities occurred in Kerr County, where Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls, was inundated early on 4 July as the Guadalupe River rose by 26 feet in 45 minutes.
Authorities reported that among the dead are 28 children, with at least 10 girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic still unaccounted for as of Sunday.
Search and rescue operations have involved over 400 personnel using helicopters, drones, and boats, according to Governor Greg Abbott.
President Donald Trump signed a federal disaster declaration for Kerr County on Sunday, activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) response in the region.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that 68 of the 82 statewide deaths occurred in the county, including children who had been staying in low-lying cabins at Camp Mystic.
The river surge struck before dawn, washing away cabins and sweeping campers downstream. The longtime camp director, Richard Eastland, was among those killed while trying to rescue children.
The camp has operated since the 1930s and hosted about 750 girls during the flood. It lost access to power, water, and communications during the storm, according to emails sent to parents.
Camp Mystic said parents whose children had not been contacted could assume they were accounted for, but the search for missing children continues in nearby riverbanks and debris fields.
Authorities in Kerr County had previously discussed installing flood sirens but never implemented the system, CNN reported, citing public records from 2016 and 2021.
Residents and officials have raised concerns that warnings were not adequately distributed. Some survivors reported receiving no alerts before the flooding began.
Meteorologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) issued pre-dawn alerts for life-threatening flooding, but questions remain about staffing shortages and dissemination effectiveness.
Governor Greg Abbott said the lack of outdoor sirens near Camp Mystic was an issue that “would be looked at.”
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick acknowledged public concern, saying: “There were thousands of people… we don’t know who all those people are.”
FEMA has opened seven shelters and deployed food, water, and aircraft with thermal imaging technology to assist in search efforts, the Department of Homeland Security stated.
The US Coast Guard is supporting the operation with helicopters and has conducted over 230 rescues, while military drones are being used to survey flooded regions.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the federal government is working closely with Texas authorities and will provide further assistance as needed.
Governor Abbott said search operations will continue 24 hours a day until every missing person is located.
Local agencies and volunteer groups, including the Cajun Navy and 300 Justice, are supporting search and rescue missions across a wide area of the Texas Hill Country.
Continued rainfall over the weekend delayed recovery efforts and raised water levels again in Kerr County, where many areas remain under flood watch.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned that the ground remains saturated, heightening the risk of additional flash flooding.
The NWS said that although rain forecasts underestimated the total rainfall, alerts had been issued in advance.
Private weather company AccuWeather issued a statement defending the adequacy of warnings, saying there was time to evacuate camps like Camp Mystic.
Some areas saw 1.8 trillion gallons of rainfall, according to the Washington Post, with damage to infrastructure including roads, homes, and utilities.
Among those killed are local leaders, including Jane Ragsdale, director of Heart O’ the Hills camp, and Michael Phillips, a volunteer fire chief from Burnet County.
Families were separated by the floodwaters. RJ Harber lost his daughters, aged 13 and 11, who were staying in a cabin with their grandparents, now also missing.
Reece Zunker, a local high school soccer coach, and his wife Paula were confirmed dead. Their children remain missing.
Matthew Stone, a Kerrville resident, said: “We got no emergency alert. There was nothing” before floodwaters surged through his neighborhood.
Some victims were recovered as far as eight miles downstream from where they were last seen, according to rescue volunteer Greg Froelick.
Residents and volunteers from across Texas have mobilized to support rescue workers, delivering food, clothing, and aid supplies to affected areas.
Businesses have offered free food and water to responders. Restaurant owners in Kerrville used helicopters to deliver meals to Camp Mystic.
Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search along the Guadalupe River, including people on horseback and others using boats and chainsaws to navigate debris.
Local residents described scenes of devastation, including homes washed away, tree trunks lodged against bridges, and personal belongings scattered across miles of riverbank.
Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. said: “Look for the helpers… The priorities right now are to rescue those in trouble and find those who are lost.”
President Donald Trump said he will likely visit Texas on Friday and has pledged continued federal support.
When asked about his plans to phase out FEMA, Trump said: “That’s something we can talk about later. Right now, they’re busy working.”
Trump also said early retirement incentives under his administration had led to staffing gaps at NOAA offices, though he did not believe these impacted the response.
Representative Joaquin Castro called for increased state preparedness, citing recent increases in severe weather events and flood frequency.
Climate scientists have linked warming temperatures to higher rainfall intensity. Kristina Dahl of Climate Central said: “We are unprepared for disasters of this scale.”
Camp Mystic prohibits phones and social media, meaning campers were not able to receive alerts directly before the flood.
Local officials acknowledged that early evacuation was not implemented at the camp or in surrounding riverfront areas.
Camp Mystic staff and security personnel acted independently to rescue children, including placing them on mattresses and leading them to higher ground.
Some campers were moved window to window across rapids by counselors. Survivors sang and prayed as they waited for rescue in cold, wet conditions.
As more families come forward, scrutiny is growing over the camp’s proximity to the river and the absence of formal early warning systems.
At least 82 people have died due to flash flooding in central Texas.
Most fatalities were reported in Kerr County, including 28 children.
The flooding began early on 4 July when the Guadalupe River rose rapidly.
Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp, was severely damaged.
Ten campers and one counselor remain missing from the camp.
President Donald Trump signed a disaster declaration on 6 July.
FEMA and other federal agencies are active in the state.
Over 850 people have been rescued, officials confirmed.
Concerns have been raised over the absence of flood warning sirens.
Local residents and volunteers have supported recovery efforts.
Search operations continue using helicopters, drones, and boats.
Federal and state agencies have committed to a full review.
Meteorological services defended the issuance of early alerts.
Camp Mystic does not permit phones or social media during stays.
Climate scientists linked the event to intensified rainfall patterns.
Governor Greg Abbott said search operations will not stop.
