HUNT, Texas, July 6 (Reuters) — Devastating floods across Texas have claimed the lives of at least 78 people as of Sunday, with children making up a significant portion of the fatalities. Authorities continue to search for several young girls who vanished after flooding hit a summer camp in the area. In response to ongoing weather threats and worsening conditions, emergency personnel are being withdrawn from certain areas out of concern for their safety.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha, whose jurisdiction lies at the heart of the affected region in Texas Hill Country, reported that 68 people lost their lives in his county alone. Tragically, this number includes 28 children, underscoring the disaster’s heavy toll on young lives. Governor Greg Abbott, during a press briefing held Sunday afternoon, provided additional statewide figures. He confirmed that another 10 deaths had occurred in other parts of Texas, bringing the total number of fatalities to 78.
Abbott also revealed that 41 individuals remain unaccounted for as rescue and recovery efforts continue. Emergency teams are working under difficult and dangerous conditions, and some have been forced to evacuate due to the threat of further flooding. Officials are urging residents to stay alert and follow evacuation orders as new storms loom.
Former President Donald Trump expressed his sympathy for the victims of the tragic Texas floods and mentioned that he was likely to visit the affected region on Friday. He stated that his administration had been in communication with Texas Governor Greg Abbott to offer support and coordinate relief efforts. Speaking to reporters while departing from New Jersey, Trump described the situation as deeply tragic.
“It’s an absolutely terrible event, just heartbreaking,” Trump said. “Our prayers are with everyone who has suffered, and we extend our blessings to the people of Texas who are going through such an incredibly difficult time.”
One of the areas hit hardest by the flooding was Camp Mystic, a well-known Christian summer camp for girls that has been operating for almost 100 years. Sheriff Larry Leitha of Kerr County reported that 10 campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic were still missing as of Sunday. The camp, which holds deep historical and cultural significance in the Texas Hill Country, became a focal point of the tragedy when rising waters overwhelmed parts of the area. Rescue efforts are ongoing as teams continue to search for the missing individuals, and families remain hopeful for any news of their loved ones amid the devastation.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott described the scene of devastation left by recent floods as “nothing short of horrific,” particularly emphasizing the trauma experienced by young children caught in the disaster. Abbott, who visited the flooded areas on Saturday, reaffirmed his commitment to ongoing search and recovery operations, stressing that every effort would be made to locate those who remain missing.
The flooding was triggered by relentless rainfall that struck central Texas on Friday, coinciding with the U.S. Independence Day holiday. The intense downpour caused the Guadalupe River to overflow, leading to catastrophic flooding in surrounding communities. As the river surged past its banks, entire neighborhoods were submerged, vehicles swept away, and hundreds of people were suddenly trapped or stranded.
Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, reported that the widespread damage has resulted in fatalities across several counties. According to his update, three deaths occurred in Burnet County, one in Tom Green County, five in Travis County, and another in Williamson County. Freeman Martin, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, also addressed the media on Sunday, warning that the number of casualties was expected to increase over the coming days as recovery efforts continue and more bodies are discovered.
Rescue teams have been working tirelessly around the clock. By Saturday, more than 850 people had been pulled to safety. Many of those rescued were found in life-threatening situations—some stranded on rooftops, others holding on to tree branches or clinging to floating debris in fast-moving floodwaters. The storm dumped up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain in some areas, particularly in regions approximately 85 miles (about 140 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio. Emergency services, including the National Guard, local fire departments, and volunteers, have been deployed to assist in both rescue and relief operations.
Officials continue to urge residents to remain cautious, avoid flooded areas, and follow evacuation orders as more rain is forecast. The full scale of the destruction is still being assessed, but the damage to lives, homes, and infrastructure is already being described as among the worst flooding events in Texas history.
Nim Kidd reported that he was receiving preliminary and unverified information suggesting that another surge of floodwater could be moving through parts of the Guadalupe River’s tributaries. Continued rainfall in the region, which was already heavily saturated from the intense storms on Friday, raised serious concerns about additional flash flooding.
“We’re currently evacuating certain sections along the river because we fear another large wave of water may be heading toward those areas,” Kidd explained. He noted that many of those being moved were volunteers who had traveled from outside the region to assist in search and rescue operations.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was officially activated on Sunday. According to the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA is now coordinating with local emergency teams and providing vital resources to support first responders on the ground. This mobilization followed President Trump’s approval of a major disaster declaration for the state of Texas.
Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard has been deployed to bolster ongoing search and rescue missions. Helicopters and aircraft from the Coast Guard are conducting aerial operations, helping locate and retrieve stranded individuals and support ground crews working in difficult and dangerous conditions throughout the flood-stricken areas.
Trump has previously proposed reducing the federal government’s involvement in disaster response efforts, suggesting that individual states should take on greater responsibility for managing and funding their own recovery operations.
Some experts have raised concerns that reductions in the federal workforce under the Trump administration — particularly cuts affecting the agency responsible for overseeing the National Weather Service — may have contributed to shortcomings in forecasting the severity of the recent Texas floods and issuing timely warnings.
Former NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Director Rick Spinrad noted that the Trump administration had implemented thousands of job cuts within NOAA, which has left numerous weather service offices short-staffed. While Spinrad said he couldn’t confirm whether the reduced staffing directly caused the failure to adequately warn the public about the flood risk, he emphasized that such cutbacks undoubtedly impair the agency’s ability to provide accurate and timely weather forecasts.
When questioned on Sunday about whether these staffing reductions might have hindered the federal response or left critical positions unfilled at the National Weather Service during his tenure, Trump denied responsibility. He deflected blame, referencing President Joe Biden and suggesting the situation had developed under Biden’s leadership, though he added, “I wouldn’t blame Biden either. This was a once-in-a-century disaster.”
Trump declined to directly respond to a question about FEMA’s performance, saying only, “They’re busy working, so we’ll leave it at that.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who currently oversees both FEMA and NOAA, defended the administration by saying that a “moderate” flood watch issued by the National Weather Service last Thursday had not captured the severity of the impending storm. She added that efforts are underway to improve the forecasting system.
Meanwhile, Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro from Texas expressed concern on CNN’s State of the Union, warning that staff shortages at the National Weather Service could put lives at risk. “In situations involving flash floods,” Castro said, “if there aren’t enough personnel to conduct thorough analysis and deliver precise forecasts, the result can be tragic.”
COMPLETE DEVASTATION
Katharine Somerville, a counselor stationed on the Cypress Lake side of Camp Mystic—which sits at a higher elevation than the area near the Guadalupe River—described how her group of 13-year-old campers were frightened as their cabins were damaged and lost electricity in the middle of the night.
“Our cabins, even those perched high on the hills, were completely overwhelmed by floodwaters. Honestly, no one ever imagined something like this could happen,” Somerville said during an interview on Fox News Sunday. “The destruction is total—you’ve all seen it.”
She explained that the girls in her care were safely evacuated using military transport vehicles. Fortunately, all of them made it out unharmed.
The disaster struck with little warning early Friday morning, as rainfall far heavier than predicted caused the river to rise rapidly, swelling to an alarming height of 29 feet (about 9 meters). The sudden surge left very little time for preparation or response.
By the following day, Camp Mystic—where around 700 girls were staying at the time—was left in ruins. Inside one of the cabins, a muddy line on the walls marked the water level, which had reached at least six feet (approximately 1.83 meters) above the floor. Furniture such as bed frames and mattresses were soaked and covered in mud, with personal items scattered in the debris. Several buildings showed signs of major structural damage, including shattered windows and, in one case, an entire wall that had been swept away.
