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
At least 16 injured in mass shooting at high school in Turkey after ex-student opens fire: report

Tragedy Strikes: Former Student’s Shooting Rampage at Turkish High School Leaves 16 Injured

In a tragic event on Tuesday, an ex-student unleashed gunfire at a…
Tyler Robinson's defense calls on expert from Kohberger case to argue bias in jury pool

Tyler Robinson’s Defense Enlists Kohberger Case Expert to Challenge Potential Jury Bias

In an upcoming courtroom battle, the defense team for Tyler Robinson, accused…
FBI raids Texas home of suspect accused of throwing Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's San Francisco house

FBI Conducts Texas Home Search in Connection to Molotov Cocktail Incident at Sam Altman’s Residence

SPRING, Texas – The FBI has conducted a raid on the residence…
Trump reveals why he deleted AI post of himself as Jesus-like figure — and takes shot at Riley Gaines

Trump Explains Deletion of AI-Generated Jesus Image, Criticizes Riley Gaines in Latest Commentary

On Monday, President Trump clarified his decision to remove an AI-generated image…
Donald Trump Pope Leo post on Truth Social, Jesus-like AI-generated image of president draw criticism from Chicago Catholics

Chicago Catholics Criticize AI-Generated Image of Trump as Pope Leo Shared on Truth Social

Pope Leo XIV’s recent condemnation of the conflict in Iran has elicited…
Man caught on camera tossing puppy over gate in Mission Viejo 'coyote country' sparks outrage

Man Filmed Throwing Puppy Over Gate in Mission Viejo’s “Coyote Country” Incites Public Outrage

A distressing incident captured on video has appalled viewers and left animal…
'It seemed like a lifetime': Pilot recounts emergency landing on Phoenix street

Pilot Shares Harrowing Experience of Emergency Landing on Phoenix Street

Inside the vintage 1940s seaplane, the pilot shared his account of the…
Students exposed to drug-resistant super-strain of TB at Southwestern College

Southwestern College Faces Health Alert as Drug-Resistant TB Strain Detected Among Students

A disturbing health alert has emerged from a Southern California college campus,…
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney secures majority government with special election wins

Mark Carney Leads Canadian Government to Majority Victory in Pivotal Election

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney achieved a significant political milestone on Monday…
US blockade of Iranian ports via Strait of Hormuz takes effect

US Enforces Strategic Blockade on Iranian Ports as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Escalate

The United States initiated a naval blockade on Monday, effectively preventing ships…
LA-area street takeover shooting caught on camera; locals scared, vow to move

Shooting at LA Street Takeover Captured on Camera; Residents Express Fear and Consider Relocation

Four individuals were hospitalized after a shooting erupted during a street takeover…
OpenAI Boss Sam Altman's San Francisco Home Targeted in Second Attack in 3 Days

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s San Francisco Residence Experiences Second Incident in Three Days

In a troubling series of events, the San Francisco home of OpenAI…