HUNT, Texas (Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that more than 160 people remain missing following the devastating flash floods that swept through the state over the July Fourth weekend, claiming the lives of over 100 individuals.
The number of those unaccounted for has tripled in recent days after officials set up a hotline for families to report missing loved ones. Most of the reports come from Kerr County, a popular summer destination in Texas’ Hill Country, where many victims have already been recovered.
According to Abbott, many of the missing were likely visitors who had not formally registered at camps or hotels, making it harder for authorities to track their presence.
The Guadalupe River region, packed with youth camps and campgrounds, has been especially hard hit. At Camp Mystic — a historic Christian all-girls camp — at least 27 campers and counselors were killed. Authorities say five campers and one counselor remain missing.
In what has become one of the largest search operations in Texas history, crews are using helicopters, airboats, heavy equipment, and even horses to comb through thick debris, uprooted trees, and massive piles of rubble stretching for miles.
Deadliest Inland Flooding in Nearly 50 Years
Meteorologist Bob Henson of Yale Climate Connections noted that the disaster is the deadliest inland flood in the U.S. since the Big Thompson Canyon flood in Colorado in 1976, which killed 144 people.
As public scrutiny mounts over whether adequate warnings were issued before the floods struck, Governor Abbott downplayed concerns about accountability during a press conference, stating, “That’s the word choice of losers.” Drawing a sports analogy, he added, “Championship teams don’t point fingers — they get back up and win.”
Abbott vowed that the search and recovery efforts would continue until all missing individuals are found. He also stated that President Donald Trump has pledged full federal support and plans to visit the state on Friday.
Scenes of Loss and Survival at Camp Mystic
Outside the cabins of Camp Mystic, scenes of devastation remain: mud-streaked blankets, pillows, and brightly colored luggage lie scattered near the river. Among the victims were a second grader who loved sparkles, a 19-year-old counselor known for her mentorship, and the camp’s 75-year-old director.
The floods struck before dawn Friday after intense rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to surge 26 feet in under an hour. A wall of water tore through cabins, tents, and trailers. Some survivors clung to trees or escaped through cabin windows. Others formed human chains using ropes to reach safety. Time-lapse footage captured the floodwaters consuming roads within minutes.
While scientists stop short of attributing individual weather events directly to climate change, they emphasize that warmer oceans and atmosphere are making such extreme weather events more frequent and severe.
Lack of Warning Systems Under Fire
Growing questions are being raised about why so little warning was given ahead of the disaster. Kerr County officials acknowledged that no formal flood alert system was in place. County Judge Rob Kelly said past efforts to implement such a system had been rejected by FEMA and not funded locally.
“We’re focused right now on bringing people home,” said Lt. Col. Ben Baker of the Texas Game Wardens at a tense news briefing, deflecting calls to investigate potential failures in emergency response.
The Hill Country has long been vulnerable to flooding. In 1987, a flood in the nearby town of Comfort killed 10 teenagers after forcing a camp evacuation. Despite decades of awareness, preventative measures remain limited.
Recovery Efforts and Grief Continue
No one has been found alive in Kerr County since four days ago. Officials confirmed Tuesday that 30 of the recovered bodies were children.
The floods’ destruction extended for hundreds of miles, reaching areas near Austin. In Ingram, 17-year-old Aidan Duncan narrowly escaped Riverside RV Park after hearing a faint evacuation call. Now, his home and belongings — including his pet bird’s cage — are caked in mud.
“I literally cried so hard,” he said.
On the banks of the Guadalupe River, 91-year-old Charles Hanson, a resident of a local senior living facility, was sweeping up debris from a children’s playground. “We’ll make do with the best we got,” he said, determined to help his neighbors who can’t clean up themselves.
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