SPECIAL EVENING EDITION
Central Texas continues to reel from one of the deadliest flood disasters in recent U.S. history, with the death toll surpassing 100 as of Monday afternoon.
Torrential rains over the July Fourth weekend triggered flash floods that devastated communities, particularly in the Hill Country region. The Guadalupe River swelled by more than 26 feet in less than an hour, inundating riverside camps and homes before dawn on Friday.
Kerr County has borne the brunt of the tragedy, with at least 84 confirmed fatalities, including 28 children.
Among the hardest-hit locations was Camp Mystic, a century-old all-girls Christian summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River. The camp lost at least 27 campers and counselors when floodwaters swept through cabins as many slept.
Drones in the Kerrville area have been a problem for local authorities.
Travis County authorities now report seven people dead.
Officials in Burnet County, where four died, provided an update this afternoon.
Rescue crews, including hundreds of local, state, and federal officials, along with volunteers, have been working around the clock. Over 1,000 volunteers joined the search for missing persons, with authorities reporting that at least 41 people remain unaccounted for statewide. Many survivors described harrowing escapes, with some found clinging to trees after being swept away by the sudden surge of water.
Here in Austin, the Austin Firefighters Association is accusing AFD Chief Joel G. Baker of “dereliction of duty” and said people in Kerr County lost their lives because of his decision not to send local firefighters to assist in the rescue effort there.
The region remains under threat as more rain is forecast, raising concerns about additional flooding in already saturated areas. Emergency declarations have been issued at both state and federal levels, and President Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for the affected counties. Authorities have pledged to investigate the adequacy of weather warnings and the lack of evacuation orders, particularly for vulnerable sites like summer camps.
The disaster has prompted widespread mourning and calls for support. Families have returned to devastated areas to search for missing loved ones and salvage what remains.
The tragedy has also sparked discussions about flood preparedness, warning systems, and the challenges of predicting and responding to such extreme weather events in a region known for flash flooding.
Flooding is common in Texas Hill Country. This was different.
This event stands as one of the deadliest natural disasters in Texas in decades, with the death toll expected to rise as search and recovery operations continue.
