Floods in Texas’ Hill Country Cause Over 80 Deaths

A devastating flooding event in Texas’ Hill Country has resulted in at least 80 fatalities, including multiple children at a Christian girls’ camp swept away by the heavy rains. The scale of this disaster has been described as a “hundred-year catastrophe.”

President Trump announced plans to visit the flood-affected area later in the week, likely on Friday, to assess the damage firsthand. He mentioned he would have gone sooner but chose to avoid hindering rescue efforts.

Despite some claims that recent cuts to weather forecasting agencies impacted response efforts, Trump stated that those issues did not affect flood predictions or rescue operations and attributed the flooding to conditions under the current administration.

Rescue teams are working tirelessly around the clock, with over 500 operations conducted across the state, including many by air. A large coalition of local, state, and federal agencies is searching for survivors amid the extensive destruction. Emergency teams are focusing on rescuing people from land, water, and air.

Authorities confirmed that Kerr County alone has seen 68 deaths, including 40 adults and 28 children. The total number of missing persons remains high, and the death toll is expected to climb as search efforts continue. Efforts are complicated by uncertainty about how many visitors were in the area for the July 4th holiday.

Particularly concerning is Camp Mystic, where 11 girls and one counselor are still unaccounted for following the floods. Five children, aged 8 and 9, along with the camp’s owner, have been confirmed dead.

The National Weather Service has issued an extended flood watch, warning of additional rainfall—potentially 10 inches in some areas—which could worsen conditions further.