Hope of finding Texas flood survivors dims as search efforts go on
Share this @internewscast.com

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Hopes for finding survivors of the devastating flooding in Texas waned on Tuesday, as the death toll surpassed 100 and rescue crews continued their search for those missing in the aftermath.

The rescue efforts were aided by more favorable weather conditions. The storms that had pounded the Hill Country over the past four days began to subside, though isolated areas of heavy rain remained possible.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott planned another visit to Camp Mystic on Tuesday, the historic century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors lost their lives in the flash floods. Officials reported Monday that 10 campers and one counselor were still unaccounted for.

A wall of water slammed into camps and homes along the edge of the Guadalupe River before daybreak Friday, pulling people out of their cabins, tents and trailers and dragging them for miles past floating tree trunks and cars. Some survivors were found clinging to trees.

Questions are mounting about what, if any, actions local officials took to warn campers and residents who were spending the July Fourth holiday weekend in the scenic area long known to locals as “flash flood alley.”

At public briefings, officials in hard-hit Kerr County have deflected questions about what preparations and warnings were made as forecasters warned of life-threatening conditions.

“We definitely want to dive in and look at all those things,” Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said Monday. “We’re looking forward to doing that once we can get the search and rescue complete.”

Some camps were aware of the dangers and monitoring the weather. At least one moved several hundred campers to higher ground before the floods. But many were caught by surprise.

Searchers have found the bodies of 84 people, including 28 children, in Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps near the river, officials said.

Nineteen deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, local officials said.

Among those confirmed dead were 8-year-old sisters from Dallas who were at Camp Mystic and a former soccer coach and his wife who were staying at a riverfront home. Their daughters were still missing.

Elizabeth Lester, a mother of children who were at Camp Mystic and nearby Camp La Junta during the flood, said her young son had to swim out a cabin window to escape. Her daughter fled up the hillside as floodwaters whipped against her legs. Both survived.

Search-and-rescue teams used heavy equipment to untangle trees and move large rocks as part of the massive search for missing people. Hundreds of volunteers have shown up to help with one of the largest rescue operations in Texas history.

Piles of twisted trees sprinkled with mattresses, refrigerators and coolers littered the riverbanks.

___

Vertuno reported from Austin, and Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Safiyah Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama; Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City and Sophia Tareen in Chicago.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Bush-Era Susie Wiles Is Wrecking Trump’s America First Agenda

Susie Wiles: The Bush-Era Strategist Shaping Trump’s America First Policy Shake-Up

National File founder and publisher Noel Fritsch is warning that veteran GOP…
Knicks put up another 40-point quarter in 18-point rout of Raptors

Knicks Dominate Raptors with Impressive 40-Point Quarter in Commanding Victory

Scoring forty points in a single quarter typically fills a team with…
4 people killed, 10 wounded in shooting at child’s party in California

Tragic Shooting at California Children’s Party Leaves 4 Dead, 10 Injured: Community in Shock

In a tragic turn of events over the weekend, a child’s birthday…
Minivan crushes man to death during repair work at Baymeadows apartment complex: JSO

Tragic Accident: Man Fatally Injured by Minivan During Repair at Baymeadows Complex, Reports JSO

Authorities in Jacksonville reported a tragic incident on Sunday evening when a…
Weather Impact Alert: Widespread rain & strong storms lead to slick roads Monday and Tuesday

Prepare for Slippery Roads: Heavy Rain & Storms Forecasted for Early Week

Jacksonville, Fla. — After more than a month of dry conditions, Jacksonville…
How Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele evaded capture in Latin America, revealed in declassified files

Unveiled Secrets: How Nazi War Criminal Josef Mengele Eluded Justice in Latin America

Earlier this year, Argentine President Javier Milei made significant strides in transparency…
Luigi Mangione back in court on Monday for pre-trial hearing on evidence in CEO shooting case

Luigi Mangione Scheduled for Pre-Trial Hearing on CEO Shooting Evidence This Monday

Luigi Mangione is set to return to court on Monday to address…
Vanessa Hudgens, Cole Tucker welcome second child

Vanessa Hudgens & Cole Tucker Celebrate Joyous Arrival of Their Second Child: A Heartwarming Journey

They’re all in this together. Vanessa Hudgens, best known for her role…
When does 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' air?

Catch the Magic: When and Where to Watch ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ This Holiday Season

This holiday season, NBC is set to delight audiences with two airings…
Ex-FBI special agent explains Afghan vetting failures in wake of National Guard ambush: ‘Ticking time bomb’

Months Before National Guard Shooting, Concerns Raised About Afghan Evacuee’s Mental Health

The Afghan man implicated in the recent shooting of two National Guard…
Covina, California woman's dog killed after burglars ransack home, taking jewelry, mementos and money

Heartbreaking Burglary in Covina: Family’s Beloved Dog Killed Amidst Stolen Treasures

In Covina, California, a heartbreaking incident unfolded when a widow’s home was…
4 children hurt after bouncy house gets swept up by gust of wind

Shocking Incident: Bouncy House Torn by Strong Winds Injures Four Children

A gust of wind sent a bouncy castle airborne, leading to injuries…