A devastating wall of water swept through Central Texas this weekend, claiming at least 43 lives and leaving more than two dozen still missing, as emergency crews scrambled to respond to what officials are calling one of the worst natural disasters in recent state history.
Torrential flash floods hammered the Hill Country region early Friday morning, catching many off guard as the Guadalupe River surged over its banks at an alarming pace… rising more than 26 feet in under an hour, according to officials. The rapid flooding turned Camp Mystic, a popular summer camp in Kerr County hosting over 750 children, into a crisis zone.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed Saturday night that 43 people have died… including 15 children. Authorities say at least 17 of the victims, both adults and children, have yet to be identified. Officials also revealed that 27 campers are still missing as of the latest update.
“We’ve been pulling people out of trees, floodwaters, and rooftops non-stop,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice. Emergency responders have conducted more than 160 air rescues and saved over 850 people… eight of whom were injured… since the flooding began.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a federal disaster, expanding aid to multiple counties. During a Saturday press briefing, he detailed how many survivors were stranded in remote areas for hours. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, also present at the briefing, confirmed the U.S. Coast Guard has saved or helped save 223 lives so far.
