More than 100 people have died in Texas after heavy flooding hit the state. Rescue workers are still searching for missing people using helicopters, boats, dogs, and about 1,750 emergency workers.
The ground is already soaked, and more rain is expected, making the rescue work more difficult.
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At least 27 of the dead were girls and their camp counselors who were staying at a summer camp near a river when the floods hit during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Texas Governor and President Respond
Governor Greg Abbott said more rain could cause more flooding, and the number of deaths might increase.
President Donald Trump said he will visit Texas on Friday. He also approved emergency federal help. Some people blamed Trump for cutting weather agency budgets, but the White House said those claims were false. They said the National Weather Service gave accurate and timely warnings.
Trump called the flood a “100-year catastrophe” and said no one expected it to be this bad.
Biggest Impact in Kerr County
At least 104 people have died from the floods across central Texas. The worst-hit area is Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River flows. At least 84 people died there, including 28 children.
One of the most tragic parts of the disaster happened at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp with about 750 people. Floodwaters rushed into the camp, and 27 people died.
Community Shocked and Demanding Better Warnings
Texas Senator Ted Cruz said camps are usually a time for kids to have fun and make friends, but this one ended in sadness. Some people are asking why the flood warning system wasn’t stronger in this area, which is known for sudden floods and called “Flash Flood Alley.”
A mother named Nicole Wilson, who almost sent her daughters to Camp Mystic, started a petition for better warning systems. She said, “Five minutes of a warning siren could have saved all those children.”
At a candlelight vigil in San Antonio, people prayed for the victims. A woman named Rebeca Gutierrez said she was shocked by how fast the rivers rose and hopes more is done to prevent future disasters.
Floodwaters Rose Very Quickly
The floodwaters rose very fast, reaching the tops of trees and cabin roofs while campers were sleeping. Inside the cabins, there were broken windows, muddy blankets, and teddy bears left behind. Some volunteers helping with the rescue personally knew the victims.
One man said he was helping the parents of two missing children. The last message the parents got was, “We’re being washed away,” and then the phone went silent.
The rain came fast and hard on Thursday night and continued into Friday. In just 45 minutes, the Guadalupe River rose about 26 feet as tall as a two-story building.
Experts say flash floods happen when the ground cannot absorb heavy rain. Climate change is making extreme weather like floods, heatwaves, and droughts more common and more dangerous.