By Amanda Castro

Associate News Editor

0

Share

Newsweek is a Trust Project member

See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

As the search enters its seventh day, communities across Texas are reeling from deadly flash floods that have claimed at least 120 lives and left more than 170 people missing. Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic, bore the brunt of the disaster, with children among the victims and devastation stretching from homes to summer camps.

What to Know

• The confirmed death toll has reached 120, with the majority from Kerr County.
• More than 170 people remain missing, prompting ongoing search and rescue operations.
• Camp Mystic was severely affected, losing 27 campers and counselors to the floods.
• The Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in under an hour, overwhelming homes and cabins.
• President Trump issued a federal disaster declaration, authorizing FEMA support.
• Health and Human Services plans to declare a public health emergency in the region.
• Families from Mountain Brook and Mobile, Alabama, are among the named victims.
• Texas officials plan a special legislative session to improve disaster preparedness.
• Emergency alert systems and forecasting failures are under scrutiny.
• Search crews face extreme terrain challenges and scattered "islands" of flooded land.

This live blog is now closed.

Jul 10, 2025 at 03:55 PM EDT

Camp Mystic counselor recalls flood evacuation: ‘a blur of prayer, singing, and confusion’

Laney Owens, a longtime counselor at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, said she feels "blessed" to have helped initiate evacuations during the early morning flooding on July 4, per CNN. In a now-private social media post, Owens described waking to water puddling on the cabin floor and alerting staff as the Guadalupe River surged.

"We are so blessed to have woken when we did," she wrote. "The hours to continue are a blur of prayer, singing, and confusion."

Owens, who was staying in the riverside Bug House cabin, said she had attended Camp Mystic for 11 years and called it "a bright, sunny, and cheerful place full of the nation's finest group of girls." She urged continued prayers for the camp community and those still missing.

Jul 10, 2025 at 03:29 PM EDT

Expert says Texas flood was ‘worst-case scenario’ no one could predict

In an interview on CNN This Morning, former NOAA official Alan Gerard said that the deadly flooding along the Guadalupe River was a "worst-case scenario" that current forecasting tools couldn't predict more than an hour or two in advance.

Gerard, who once led the National Severe Storms Laboratory, explained that while meteorologists recognized a high-risk environment for flash flooding, pinpointing the exact location and severity of such an extreme event remains beyond current scientific capabilities.

"The unfortunate reality is all the soil and hills in that area just funnel all of that rainfall right into the river," Gerard said. "You can get these tremendous flood waves that develop extremely quickly."

He also pointed to a possible "breakdown in communication" between state and local agencies, suggesting that some camps and residents may not have fully understood the risk. Gerard emphasized that while Texas emergency officials had pre-positioned resources, the unpredictability of flash floods makes timely evacuations difficult.

Jul 10, 2025 at 03:15 PM EDT

How did the Texas flooding happen?

The devastating Texas flooding was caused by a combination of factors including "unprecedented" heavy rainfall across the central and western parts of the state, combined with rocky terrain and saturated rivers.

The main factors include:

Prolonged and Repetitive Thunderstorms

Over several days starting in the early hours of Friday morning, a stalled weather pattern brought persistent thunderstorms to the region. These storms focused on the same areas in a phenomenon known as "training," where storm cells follow one another like train cars on a track. This led to repeated downpours over already saturated ground.

• Some areas, such as Kerr and Llano Counties, saw rainfall totals exceed 10 inches within hours.
• Localized flash floods became widespread because the soil couldn't absorb the rapidly falling rain.

Terrain and Hydrology

The region hardest hit — the Texas Hill Country — is particularly vulnerable to flash flooding due to its rugged terrain and shallow soil:

• Steep slopes and limestone bedrock cause water to run off quickly instead of soaking into the ground.
• Rivers like the Guadalupe and Llano rose rapidly, in some cases by more than 25 feet in under an hour, overwhelming riverbanks and flood control systems.
• Low-water crossings and small creeks became raging torrents, sweeping away roads, cabins, and vehicles.

Saturated Ground and Infrastructure Vulnerability

Prior rainfall in the weeks leading up to the event had already saturated the soil in many areas. When intense rains began:

• Urban runoff intensified due to paved surfaces in cities like Austin and Killeen, contributing to street and highway flooding.
• Drainage systems were overwhelmed, especially in rural and semi-rural areas, causing water to back up into homes and businesses.

Limited Warning Time and Rapid Onset

Many of the flash floods happened very quickly, often within minutes of rainfall intensifying. Despite warnings from the National Weather Service, the speed and severity of the floodwaters took many by surprise:

• At Camp Mystic in Kerr County, for example, cabins were swept away with little time to evacuate.
• Emergency responders were forced into large-scale search and rescue operations, including air rescues.

Jul 10, 2025 at 03:01 PM EDT

Camp La Junta campers climbed into rafters to escape rising floodwaters

Several campers at Camp La Junta in Kerr County, Texas, were forced to climb into cabin rafters to escape surging floodwaters during last week's deadly storm. According to Keli Rabon, whose son, Brock, was staying in Cabin 6, counselors helped the boys onto the rafters after the water reached the top bunks.

Brock's brother, Braeden, was in a separate cabin and recalled waking to screams and lightning. "People came into our cabin, they were like, 'Yeah, Cabins 6, 5 and 34 were really messed up,' and I just got worried about him more than worried about myself," he told CNN.

Despite the chaos, Camp La Junta confirmed on Friday that all campers and staff had been safely evacuated.

Jul 10, 2025 at 02:45 PM EDT

Dry weather offers brief relief for flood-ravaged Texas, heat now a concern

After days of relentless rain and flash flooding, dry conditions are expected to hold across much of Texas Hill Country through Friday, according to the National Weather Service. The pause in storms offers a critical window for search and recovery teams working along the Guadalupe River and surrounding areas.

AccuWeather reports that while isolated pop-up storms remain possible, the primary concern now shifts to heat. RealFeel temperatures could climb into the triple digits, posing new risks for responders and volunteers clearing debris and searching for missing residents.

Officials say the saturated ground remains vulnerable to renewed flooding if weekend storms materialize. Crews are being urged to hydrate frequently and take breaks as the region transitions from flood response to heat management.

Jul 10, 2025 at 02:24 PM EDT

Noem deflects flood alert criticism, says local officials control warning systems

As scrutiny mounts over the delayed flood alerts in Kerr County, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday that the National Weather Service did issue warnings — but emphasized that it's up to local officials to determine how those alerts reach residents.

"That is for local officials to determine what their alert system is," Noem told Fox and Friends, responding to questions about why many in the flood zone received no warning before the Guadalupe River surged.

Noem also defended FEMA's evolving role, saying the agency now supports state-led disaster responses rather than managing them directly. "We come in and support them, and that's exactly what we did in this situation," she said.

Jul 10, 2025 at 02:00 PM EDT

More than 2,100 responders deployed to Kerr County as flood recovery grows

Search and recovery efforts in Kerr County have scaled up dramatically, with over 2,100 personnel now on the ground, according to Jonathan Lamb of the Kerrville Police Department. Teams from 10 states — including California, Massachusetts, and Florida — have arrived to assist, with more on the way.

The surge in aid was coordinated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a decades-old agreement that allows states to share resources during major disasters. Specialized crews, including FEMA-trained responders, swift-water rescue units, and heavy equipment operators, are working along the Guadalupe River.

Officials say the multi-state response is critical as the search continues for more than 160 missing residents following last week's deadly floods.

Jul 10, 2025 at 01:44 PM EDT

Camp Mystic victims remembered as families mourn lives lost in Texas floods

The devastating flash floods that swept through Kerr County, Texas, on July 4 claimed the lives of at least 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls. Among the victims were several young girls from Dallas and Austin, as well as beloved staff members and community leaders.

Confirmed victims include:

• Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence, 8-year-old twin sisters from Dallas
• Lila Bonner, 9, of Dallas
• Eloise Peck, 8, of Dallas
• Hadley Hanna, 8, of Dallas
• Virginia Wynne Naylor, 8, of Dallas
• Mary Grace Baker, 8, of Beaumont
• Linnie McCown, 8, of Austin
• Mary Stevens, 8, of Austin
• Anna Margaret Bellows, 8, of Houston
• Blakely McCrory, 8, of Houston
• Lainey Landry, 9, of Baton Rouge
• Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence's grandfather, David Lawrence Jr., confirmed their deaths
• Chloe Childress, 18, counselor from Houston
• Camp Director Dick Eastland, longtime leader of Camp Mystic
• Jane Ragsdale, director of Heart O' the Hills Camp for Girls
• Blair Harber, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, sisters from Dallas
• Janie Hunt, 9, relative of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt

Families described the girls as joyful, compassionate, and full of promise. Many had just completed second grade and were attending camp for the summer. Tributes poured in from schools, churches, and community leaders, honoring their lives and the counselors who tried to protect them.

Search efforts continue for five campers and one counselor still missing.

Jul 10, 2025 at 01:19 PM EDT

Kerr County officials delayed flood alert as river surged, dispatch audio shows

Emergency dispatch audio obtained by KSAT confirms that a firefighter in Ingram requested a mass alert at 4:22 a.m. on July 4 as floodwaters began rising in Texas's Hill Country. The firefighter requested that the Kerr County Sheriff's Office issue a CodeRED warning to residents in Hunt, but the request was met with a delay pending supervisor approval.

The first alert through the county's CodeRED system was not sent until 90 minutes later, and some residents did not receive warnings until after 10 a.m., by which time hundreds had been swept away by the Guadalupe River. Officials have confirmed 96 deaths in Kerr County, including 36 children, and more than 160 people remain missing.

Sheriff Larry Leitha acknowledged the delay and said an after-action report will be conducted. "We're not hiding," he told reporters. "Those questions need to be answered, and they will be".

Jul 10, 2025 at 01:02 PM EDT

Camp La Junta confirms all campers safe after Texas floods

Camp La Junta officials have confirmed that all campers and staff members survived last week's deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas. "We are profoundly grateful that every boy at Camp La Junta is safe, yet our hearts are heavy," said camp owners Scott and Katie Fineske in a statement.

The Fineskes described how staff moved cabin by cabin to higher ground as floodwaters surged across the camp's main field. Repeated headcounts ensured that all 400 campers and counselors were accounted for.

Their relief was tempered by grief for neighboring camps. "We grieve with the families of the Camp Mystic girls and with everyone affected by this tragedy, including our dear friends, Dick Eastland and Jane Ragsdale," they said. Eastland and Ragsdale, directors of Camp Mystic and Heart O' the Hills, respectively, were among those killed in the floods.

Camp La Junta has pledged to support ongoing recovery efforts as the community mourns and rebuilds.

Jul 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM EDT

IN PICTURES: Search and rescue continue to look for victims

...

...

...

Jul 10, 2025 at 12:30 PM EDT

Kerr County flood death toll holds at 96 as search continues for missing

The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Kerr County, Texas, remains at 96, according to local officials. Community Services Officer Jonathan Lamb of the Kerrville Police Department confirmed Thursday that the fatalities include 60 adults and 36 children.

No additional deaths were reported overnight, but the number of missing persons remains above 150.

Among those still unaccounted for are five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic, a girls' summer camp that was hit hard by the flooding.

Jul 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM EDT

Search crews dig through debris along Guadalupe River as search enters seventh day

Search and rescue teams in Kerr County, Texas, are intensifying efforts to locate victims of last week's catastrophic flooding, deploying heavy machinery to clear debris along the Guadalupe River. Excavators and skid loaders are working through piles of wreckage, uprooted trees, and collapsed homes that were swept away when the river surged 26 feet in under an hour.

Crews have uncovered RVs buried beneath layers of debris and vehicles caked in thick mud, as the search stretches into its seventh day. Officials say the operation spans dozens of miles and involves hundreds of responders, including divers, cadaver dogs, and volunteers. With more than 170 people still missing, the riverbanks remain a grim landscape of destruction and hope.

Jul 10, 2025 at 11:54 AM EDT

FEMA sets up flood search command at Texas RV resort

Federal emergency crews have established a search-and-rescue base at Guadalupe Keys RV Resort in Center Point, Texas, as the hunt continues for dozens still missing in the aftermath of last week's devastating floods.

The operation includes divers, cadaver dogs, and aerial units, all combing the surrounding area for signs of flood victims.

Officials say the site gives responders direct access to submerged neighborhoods along the swollen Guadalupe River.

Jul 10, 2025 at 11:23 AM EDT

Pence comments on FEMA after Texas flood tragedy

...

Former Vice President Mike Pence weighed in on the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during a CNN interview this week, suggesting that its role in disaster response deserves renewed national debate. His comments come amid mounting scrutiny of FEMA's structure and effectiveness following the deadly flash floods in Central Texas.

Pence, who previously served as Indiana's governor and a member of Congress, emphasized FEMA's importance as a federal support system for states facing emergencies. "The question of FEMA's role is one that probably ought to be debated now going forward," he said, while also defending the agency's value in deploying personnel and resources to help Americans rebuild.

Reflecting on the devastation in Texas, where more than 120 people have died and scores remain missing, Pence added, "Our hearts have just been broken by the stories coming out of Texas." His remarks align with broader discussions about FEMA's future, as the Trump administration considers shifting more disaster response responsibilities to state governments.

View 0 Comments

Request Reprint & Licensing

Submit Correction

View Editorial & AI Guidelines