“Pitch-black wall of death” flooded the central Texas at the beginning of July and killed at least 70 people after the Guadalupe river exploded 26 feet higher in just 45 minutes. The disaster hit the hardest in Kerr County, where 59 died, including 21 children who swept from Riverside summer camps.
The Guadalupe river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes when the campers slept
The rain poured so quickly that families sleeping in the cabins and campers had no time to escape.
One survivor described that he was holding on a tree for hours when the water broke his grandmother’s home: “I had to swim through the window to survive”. The floods broke the buildings, washed away the roads, and hundreds of helicopter rescued were imprisoned.
Camp Mystic, a Christian girl’s camp, suffered the worst tragedy. 16 young campers in the cabins near the river drowned, while 11 girls and one advisor remain three days later.
The camp owner Richard “Dick” Eastland died and tried to save children, according to witnesses.
There have been heartbreaking stories: the eighth family of Renee Smíjstrl confirmed her death and said that in the camp “she had time of her life”.
Sisters Blair (13) and Brooke Harber (11) died as they stayed with their grandparents who still miss. The helicopters evacuated 750 campers, but many cabins were found full mud, the mattresses were thrown like toys.
Rescuers are still looking for flooded areas of drones, helicopters and ships. More than 1,700 workers have saved 850 people since Friday – some found that they were holding trees or roofs. However, hope disappears as the mission moves from the rescue to healing. President Trump approved federal assistance for Kerr County after Governor Greg Abbott begged for help.
The rain continues to brake search with a prediction of up to 10 other inches. Volunteers from groups like World Central Kitchen feed families waiting for news in evacuation centers. “What these families are going through is pure hell,” said Governor Kentucky, whose state in 2022 faced similar floods.
Officials admit that criticism is growing no system warning against floods
Officials face anger at why no warnings came. Kerm County admitted that he had no flood warnings, with Judge Rob Kelly, “No one saw it”.
Although the National Meteorological Service released a flood watch, many people received no telephone warnings.
Critics accuse the cuts of Trump’s administration to weather agencies for outdated predictions that underestimate the rain. Experts will notice climate change that such disasters increase the likelihood that warmer air has more rain.
The region nicknamed “Flash Flood Alley” has a land that cannot absorb sudden downpours. At a tense press conference, officials came out when they asked why the camps were not evacuated and set out, “We focus on finding children”.
(Tagstotranslate) Texas Flooding (T) Guadalupe River Disaster (T) Kerr County Tragedy (T) Camp Mystic Drowning (T) Federal Disaster Aid (T) Texas Floods (T) Camp Mystic (T) Warning (T) Missing Children (T) Disaster Rester (T) Flood Deaths (T) Search and Rescue
