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Death Toll Rises To 50, Rescue Operations Continue After Devastating Texas Floods

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At least 51 people, including 15 children, are confirmed dead after devastating flash flooding racked several communities in Central and West Texas starting on Friday. Rescue crews are also continuing the search for at least 27 children missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls camp located not far from the banks of the flooded Guadalupe River.

River levels in the areas of central Texas impacted by torrential rains early Friday have largely receded to where they were before the storm, according to National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration flood gauges. The Guadalupe River — which rose more than 20 feet in two hours due to torrential downpours — is just about back to its pre-flood level as of Sunday morning.

Volunteers from more than six states are currently assisting with the rescue efforts. “The grassroots efforts on this have been amazing,” Ryan Logue, a Texas native and volunteer with the Louisiana-based Cajun Navy, told CNN. “We have had volunteers from over six states. I have people coming from Lubbock, Amarillo, over eight hours, 10 hours away in our own state, coming to help here.”

“It really does show that this country is more united than divided and it is tremendously appreciated,” Logue added. All in all, rescue crews are combing through 100 miles of some of the most affected areas in hopes of finding survivors.

As of this report, 27 children remain missing from Camp Mystic, which is located in Kerr County. “Today I visited Camp Mystic. It, and the river running beside it, were horrendously ravaged in ways unlike I’ve seen in any natural disaster,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Saturday.

“The height the rushing water reached to the top of cabins was shocking. We won’t stop until we find every girl who was in those cabins.” Tragically, four girls from Camp Mystic have been found dead as of this report.

As frantic rescue operations continue, more than 850 people in Kerr County have been brought to safety so far, emergency officials said. At least 300 of those rescued had to be airlifted due to the widespread devastation in the area, which swept away entire campsites and RV parks along the banks of the Guadalupe.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem indicated in remarks Saturday that President Donald Trump will “honor” the federal disaster declaration signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott following the deadly flooding there.

“I’ve visited with the president already about this federal disaster declaration that the governor was going to sign here this morning, and he has indicated that he will honor that and that he will accept that so that response and that relief will be coming,” Noem said during a press conference.

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